ment:

"You entered the cave with the rest of the party?"

"Yes."

"But you left the others before they had made the complete round?"

"Yes."

"Why was that?"

"I was not particularly interested. I had seen the cave many times
before."

"Where did you leave the party?"

"I believe in the gallery of the broken column."

"You left the cave immediately?"

"Yes."

"Did you enter it again?"

"No."

"You forgot Miss Mathers's coat and left it in the gallery of the broken
column?"

"So it would seem."

"Did you not think of that later and go back for it?"

Radnor snapped out his answer. "No, I didn't think anything about the
coat."

"Are you in the habit of leaving young ladies' coats about in that
off-hand way?"

A titter ran about the room, and Rad did not deign to notice this
question.

I was indignant that the boy should be made to face such an ordeal. This
was not a regular trial and the coroner had no right to be more
obnoxious than his calling required. There was a glint of anger in
Radnor's eyes; and I was uneasily aware that he no longer cared what
impression he made. His answers to the rest of the questions were as
short as the English language permitted.

"What did you do after leaving the cave?"

"Went home."

"Please go into more detail. What did you do immediately after leaving
the cave?"

"Strolled through the woods."

"For how long?"

"I don't know."

"How long do you think?"

"Possibly half an hour."

"Then what did you do?"

"Returned to the hotel, ordered my horse and rode home."

"Why did you not wait for the rest of the party?"

"Didn't feel like it."

The question was repeated in several ways, but Radnor stubbornly refused
to discuss the matter. He had promised me, the last thing before coming
to the hearing, that he would clear up the suspicious points in regard
to his conduct on the day of the crime. I took him in hand myself, but I
could get nothing more from him than the coroner had elicited. For some
reason he had veered completely, and his manner warned me not to push
the matter. I took my seat and the questioning continued.

"Mr. Gaylord," said the coroner, severely, "you have heard the evidence
respecting your peculiar behavior when you returned to the hotel. Three
witnesses have stated that you were in an unnaturally perturbed
condition. Is this true?"

Radnor supposed it must be true. He did not wish to question the
gentlemen's veracity. He did