fallen forward and the other had
disappeared. I ran to the spot, only to find the body of the murdered
man lying on the ground. I stooped to see if I could be of any use to
him, and immediately I was collared from behind by Lord Arthur
himself.'

"You may imagine," said the man in the corner, "how keen was the
excitement of that moment in court. Coroner and jury alike literally
hung breathless on every word that shabby, vulgar individual uttered.
You see, by itself his evidence would have been worth very little, but
coming on the top of that given by James Terry, its significance--more,
its truth--had become glaringly apparent. Closely cross-examined, he
adhered strictly to his statement; and having finished his evidence,
George Higgins remained in charge of the constables, and the next
witness of importance was called up.

"This was Mr. Chipps, the senior footman in the employment of Lord
Arthur Skelmerton. He deposed that at about 10.30 on the Friday evening
a 'party' drove up to 'The Elms' in a fly, and asked to see Lord Arthur.
On being told that his lordship had company he seemed terribly put out.

"'I hasked the party to give me 'is card,' continued Mr. Chipps, 'as I
didn't know, perhaps, that 'is lordship might wish to see 'im, but I
kept 'im standing at the 'all door, as I didn't altogether like his
looks. I took the card in. His lordship and the gentlemen was playin'
cards in the smoking-room, and as soon as I could do so without
disturbing 'is lordship, I give him the party's card.'

"'What name was there on the card?' here interrupted the coroner.

"'I couldn't say now, sir,' replied Mr. Chipps; 'I don't really
remember. It was a name I had never seen before. But I see so many
visiting cards one way and the other in 'is lordship's 'all that I can't
remember all the names.'

"'Then, after a few minutes' waiting, you gave his lordship the card?
What happened then?'

"''Is lordship didn't seem at all pleased,' said Mr. Chipps with much
guarded dignity; 'but finally he said: "Show him into the library,
Chipps, I'll see him," and he got up from the card table, saying to the
gentlemen: "Go on without me; I'll be back in a minute or two."

"'I was about to open the door for 'is lordship when my lady came into
the room, and then his lordship suddenly changed his mind like, and said
to me: "Tell that man I'm busy and can't see him," and 'e sat down again
at the card table. I went back to the 'all, and told t