The trembling waiter stammered incoherently, and said little of
moment.

"Look here," said Fenn, bluntly, "is that your knife sticking in him?
I mean, is it one belonging to Fraschini's service? Don't touch it,
but look at it, you can tell."

Luigi leaned over the dead man. "Yes, it is one of our boning knives,"
he said. "We always bring our own hardware."

"Well, then, if you want to clear yourself and your men of doubt, tell
all you know."

"I know this," and Luigi braced himself to the ordeal. "I was waiting
in the pantry for Miss Van Allen to send me word to serve supper, and
I peeped in the dining-room now and then to see if it was time. I
heard, presently, Miss Van Allen's voice, also a man's voice. I didn't
want to intrude, so waited for a summons. After a moment or two I
heard a little scream, and heard somebody or something fall. I had no
thought of anything wrong, but thought the guests were
unusually--er--riotous."

"Are Miss Van Allen's guests inclined to be riotous?"

"No, sir, oh, no," asseverated the man, while Mrs. Reeves and Ariadne
looked indignant. "And for that reason, I felt a little curious, so I
pushed the door ajar and peeped in."

"What did you see?"