Mr. de Mountford, on the night in question, you say you went to
see the deceased at the Veterans' Club. You were, I understand, shown
into the smoking room?"

"Yes," was the simple answer.

"Your cousin was in the room?"

"Yes."

"Alone?"

"Alone."

"And how long did your interview with him last?"

"About an hour or less, perhaps."

"Was it of an amicable character?"

This question was identical to the one already put to Luke on the
actual night of the crime, by the detective charged to elucidate its
mysteries. And Luke's reply was identical to his former one:

"Of an indifferent character," he replied.

"There was no quarrel between you and the deceased gentleman?"

"Our interview was of a private nature," rejoined Luke with
unalterable calm.

"But other witnesses," retorted the coroner sharply, "heard angry
voices issuing from the smoking room."

"That no doubt is for those other witnesses to say."

"You deny then that you quarrelled with the deceased on the night when
he was murdered?"

"I deny nothing. I am not on my trial, I presume."

Again a pause. The coroner closed his eyes and stroked his heavy chin.
He had not yet succeeded in chipping the smooth surface of the ice.

"At what precise hour then did you last see the deceased alive?" he
asked, allowing his voice once more to appear harsh and his manner
more peremptory.

"At nine o'clock or thereabouts, the night before last."

"Where was that?"

"He was in the lobby of the Veterans' Club and I just outside."

"He made certain remarks to the hall porter at that moment, which
offended you very deeply, I understand."

"Mr. Philip de Mountford was not always guarded in his speech when he
spoke to servants."

"And his remarks offended you?"

"My opinion on this point is of no consequence, I imagine."

"You then left the door step of the Veterans' Club, and a moment later
the deceased joined you in the street."

"I finally left the club soon after nine, but I did not again see Mr.
Philip de Mountford alive."

"The deceased suggested that you should come with him then and there
to see Lord Radclyffe at Grosvenor Square; he hailed a taxicab and you
entered it with him," insisted the coroner with sudden, slow emphasis.

"I last saw Mr. Philip de Mountford alive in the lobby of the
Veterans' Club," reiterated Luke calmly, "soon after nine o'clock."

"He overtook you in the street outside the club?"

"It is not true."

"And hail