Page:More lives than one.djvu/79

 breast was an almost invisible spot that might or might not be blood.

“Hard to tell,” he concluded, after a close examination, “but put it away very carefully. You fellows will have this place in your keeping right along, I suppose. Well, don’t let any one touch that robe till it’s tested.”

Charley appeared at the table suddenly.

“Caterman here.”

“Caterman? Oh, the caterer’s man. Tell him to come in. And bring me another cup of coffee. It’s the best in the world!”

The Chinaman smiled. Apparently conditions were not troubling him much.

The man from the caterer’s came in diffidently.

“I suppose you want to take away your chairs and dishes,” said Hutchins, casually. “You may do so— but be careful to take nothing but what is yours, and if you notice anything unusual or peculiar, report it. See?”

The man who, was intelligent, seemed to understand.

“By the way,” Hutchins said, “did any of your people see Mr. Locke the master of the house—er—late last evening?”

“One of our men was on the door, sir.”

“He was! Did he see Mr. Locke go out, by any chance?”

“He let him out.”

“Ah. You interest me strangely! What time was this?”

“About half past ten.”

“And why is your doorman so accurate as to the time?”

“Because,” the man looked serious, “because it was right after that that we heard the commotion upstairs.”

“Who do you mean by ‘we’?”