This giving the coroner an opportunity to revenge himself for his
discomfiture of a moment before, he said somewhat severely:

"It is the business of a witness to answer questions, not to put
them."

The secretary flushed and the account stood even.

"Very well, then, sir; if Mr. Leavenworth felt any forebodings of
his end, he did not reveal them to me. On the contrary, he seemed to be
more absorbed in his work than usual. One of the last words he said to
me was, 'In a month we will have this book in press, eh, Trueman?' I
remember this particularly, as he was filling his wine-glass at the
time. He always drank one glass of wine before retiring, it being my
duty to bring the decanter of sherry from the closet the last thing
before leaving him. I was standing with my hand on the knob of the
hall-door, but advanced as he said this and replied, 'I hope so,
indeed, Mr. Leavenworth.' 'Then join me in drinking a glass of
sherry,' said he, motioning me to procure another glass from the
closet. I did so, and he poured me out the wine with his own hand. I am
not especially fond of sherry, but the occasion was a pleasant one and
I drained my glass. I remember being slightly ashamed of doing so, for
Mr. Leavenworth set his down half full. It was half full when we found
him this morning."

Do what he would, and being a reserved man he appeared anxious to
control his emotion, the horror of his first shock seemed to overwhelm
him here. Pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped his
forehead. "Gentlemen, that is the last action of Mr. Leavenworth I
ever saw. As he set the glass down on the table, I said good-night to