Kastle Krags Part 9

"I am not a man of great wealth, if that's what you want to know,"

Nealman answered at last. "I feel--I felt able at the time to buy this house."

"No great financial disaster has overtaken you since, I judge?"

Nealman's voice dropped a tone, and he spoke with a curious hesitancy.

"No. I shouldn't say that there had."

The coroner halted, gazing absently at the carpet, and then began on a new tack. "This butler of yours--I suppose you paid him a good wage?"

"It would be considered so, among the men of his occupation."

"Do you know if he had any large amount of money saved, or if he carried any large amount on his person?"

"Not that I know of. He was very non-committal about his affairs."

"He was a good butler," the coroner commented.

"Yes. Excellent. If you mean, did he carry enough money on his person to invite robbery, I should say that I don't think he did. Of course I don't know for certain. However, I know that he had banking connections in Ochakee."

"What of your other employees. Do you know anything about them?"

"They all came recommended. I know nothing further except, of course, in regard to my housekeeper and chauffeur."

"Your chauffeur is a colored man?"

"Yes. He has been with me for four years. A man of good character and habits."

"Do you know where he was at the time of the murder?"

"I do not."

"Your housekeeper--she has been in your employ a long time, also?"

"About two years."

"Was she well known to the murdered man?"

"Her acquaintance began with him at the same time as my own--less than a month ago."

"How old is this lady?"

"She sits in the circle. You can ask her if you like. I have never put the question to her."

Every one smiled at this sally. The housekeeper, a buxom woman of fifty years, flushed and giggled alternately.

"Where were your other servants at the time of the murder?"

"I suppose most of them were in bed. Sam, the negro boy, was in the kitchen, helping me to serve my guests."

"Then David Florey was not on duty that night?"

"I didn't watch Mr. Florey closely, Mr. Weldon. He was the kind of servant that didn't seem to require watching. He helped me serve some cold drinks immediately after dinner. I didn't see him again."

"You don't know at what hour he ventured out into the lawns?"

"I do not. I was under the impression that he was in the pantry or hall for several hours after dinner. I can not say definitely."

"And now will you describe the crime--that is, what you yourself heard and saw?"

"Beginning where?"

"At the beginning. Where you were, who was with you, and all you can tell me."

"I was in this room. I don't know the exact time--it must have been close to midnight. My guests were here with me."

"All of them?"

Nealman paused, seemingly considerably disturbed. "I can't say that all of them were in my immediate sight," he replied at last. "My guests were free of the house--some of them were at the billiard tables, others in the library, and so on. I can say definitely that Mr. Marten, Mr. Van Hope, and Mr. Killdare were in the room. Mr. Pescini was with us until just before we heard the sound."

"How long before?"

"I can't say for certain. It didn't seem to me more than a minute or two."

"You don't know where the others were?"

"Not exactly. I had left Mr. Fargo in the billiard room a moment before.

Major Dell and Mr. Nopp had been talking on the veranda."

"None of these men indicated any previous acquaintance with the butler?"

"None whatever. They were all northern men, from my own part of the country."

"All of them were your friends?"

"Yes." His face changed expression, ever so little. "Yes, of course."

"You four men were in the lounging-room--and you heard a certain sound.

Will you describe the sound?"

"It was a scream--I can't describe it any further."

"Rather a long-drawn scream, or just a sharp utterance?"

"I would say it was rather long--and very loud."

"You knew at once it was the scream of a man?"

"I thought at first it might be some wild thing--perhaps a panther or a lynx--even a water bird."