afternoon," he said. "Do you care to tell the court--in your own way--
precisely what took place, what you discovered, after you entered the
pawnshop?"

"That's exactly what I wish to do," answered Lauriston, readily. "I've
already told it, more than once, to the police and Mr. Multenius's
relatives--I'll tell it again, as plainly and briefly as I can. I went
into one of the compartments just within the side-door of the place. I saw
no one, and heard no one. I rapped on the counter--nobody came. So I
looked round the partition into the front shop. There was no one there.
Then I looked round the other partition into the back parlour, the door of
which was wide open. I at once saw an old man whom I took to be Mr.
Multenius. He was lying on the floor--his feet were towards the open door,
and his head on the hearth-rug, near the fender. I immediately jumped over
the counter, and went into the parlour. I saw at once that he was dead--
and almost immediately I hurried to the front door, to summon assistance.
At the door I ran into Mr. Ayscough, who was entering as I opened the
door. I at once told him of what I had found. That is the plain truth as
to all I know of the matter."

"You heard nothing of any person in or about the shop when you entered?"
asked the Coroner.

"Nothing!" replied Lauriston. "It was all perfectly quiet."

"What had you gone there to do?"

"To borrow some money--on two rings."

"Your own property?"