"In the grass of the carriage yard, half-way from the kitchen door
to the street," he quietly returned.

Sensation. A clue, then, at last! Something had been found which
seemed to connect this mysterious murder with the outside world.
Instantly the backdoor assumed the chief position of interest. The
candle found lying in the yard seemed to prove, not only that Hannah
had left the house shortly after descending from her room, but had left
it by the backdoor, which we now remembered was only a few steps from
the iron gate opening into the side street. But Thomas, being recalled,
repeated his assertion that not only the back-door, but all the lower
windows of the house, had been found by him securely locked and bolted
at six o'clock that morning. Inevitable conclusion--some one had locked
and bolted them after the girl. Who? Alas, that had now become the very
serious and momentous question.



V. EXPERT TESTIMONY

"And often-times, to win us to our barm, The instruments of
darkness tell us truths; Win us with honest trifles, to betray us In
deepest consequence."
_

Macbeth.
_

IN the midst of the universal gloom thus awakened there came a sharp
ring at the bell. Instantly all eyes turned toward the parlor door,