"Was it an hour?" pursued Mervyn.

"I can't say," said the man, doubtfully.

"Was it five hours?" asked Marston.

"No, Sir; I am sure it was not five."

"Could you swear it was more than half-an-hour?" persisted Marston.

"No, I could not swear that," answered he.

"I am afraid, Mr. Mervyn; you have found a mare's nest," said Marston,
contemptuously.

"I have done my duty, sir," retorted Mervyn, cynically; "which plainly
requires that I shall have no doubt, which the evidence of the witness
can clear up, unsifted and unsatisfied. I happened to think it of some
moment to ascertain, if possible, whether more persons than one were
engaged in this atrocious murder. You don't seem to think the question so
important a one; different men, sir, take different views."

"Views, sir, in matters of this sort, especially where they tend to
multiply suspicions, and to implicate others, ought to be supported by
something more substantial than mere fancies," retorted Marston.

"I don't know what you call fancies," replied Mervyn, testily; "but here
are two deadly weapons, a knife and a dagger, each, it would seem,
employed in doing this murder; if you see nothing odd in that, I can't
enable you to do so."

"Well, sir," said Marston, grimly, "the whole thing is, as you term it,
odd; and I can see no object in your picking out this particular
singularity for long-winded criticism, except to cast scandal upon my
household, by leaving a hideous and vague imputation floating among the
members of it. Sir, sir, this is a foul way," he cried, sternly, "to
gratify a paltry spite."

"Mr. Marston," said Mervyn, rising, and thrusting his hands into his
pockets, while he confronted him to the full as sternly, "the country
knows in which of our hearts the spite, if any there be between us, is
harbored. I owe you no friendship, but, sir, I cherish no malice, either;
and against the worst enemy I have on earth I am incapable of perverting
an opportunity like this, and inflicting pain, under the pretence of
discharging a duty."

Marston was on the point of retorting, but the coroner interposed, and
besought them to confine their attention strictly to the solemn inquiry
which they were summoned together to prosecute.

There remained still to be examined the surgeon who had accompanied the
coroner, for the purpose of reporting upon the extent and nature of
the injuries discoverable upon the person of the deceased. He,
accordingly, depo