As he had not been answering a question, only volunteering an
explanation, the coroner let it pass; but I saw more than one pair of
eyes roll suspiciously from side to side, as if many there felt that
some sort of clue had been offered them in this man's emotion. The
coroner, ignoring in his easy way both the emotion and the universal
excitement it had produced, now proceeded to ask: "Do you know
whether the key to the library was in its place when you left the room
last night?"

"No, sir; I did not notice."

"The presumption is, it was?"

"I suppose so."

"At all events, the door was locked in the morning, and the key
gone?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then whoever committed this murder locked the door on passing
out, and took away the key?"

"It would seem so."

The coroner turning, faced the jury with an earnest look.
"Gentlemen," said he, "there seems to be a mystery in regard to this
key which must be looked into."

Immediately a universal murmur swept through the room, testifying to