“As the first letter seemed to have no effect, I sent another, suggesting that Mr. Minford should inquire into Mr. Wilkeson’s history in the little village of——­, Westchester County, where he was born, and lived many years.  I learned from Miss Minford that her father visited Westchester County one day, and presume that he made some important discoveries there; for Miss Minford told me, that, on his return, he had forbidden Mr. Wilkeson to come to the house.  If there was any harm in putting Mr. Minford on the track to find out the real truth about the man who was a constant attendant at his fireside, I do not see it.”

“Nor I neither,” said the coroner.  “The end, as the sayin’ is, justifies the means.”

“If your Honor pleases,” said the facile Overtop, “we could easily prove that all the reports which Mr. Minford gathered in Westchester County, prejudicial to my client, arose from a confounding of another person with him.  But, as this explanation would involve the disclosure of private family affairs, and also the reflection of disgrace on the memory of the dead, my client prohibits me from saying more on the subject.  But all this, as none knows better than your Honor, has nothing to do with the case.  We ask that my client shall either be proved guilty of the murder, or of some knowledge of it, or released.”

Fayette Overtop here looked volumes of confidence at the jury; and five of the jury looked back volumes of agreement with him.

“Nobody can be in a bigger hurry than me, Mr. Overtop,” said the coroner, with tolerable good nature.  “These ‘ere inquests, commencin’ in the mornin’ and holdin’ on a good part of the day, are rather hard on a chap ’customed to his ’leven-o’clock drink.  I have to make up for the loss by adjournin’ early in the arternoon.  Ha! ha!  Now, Myndert, my boy, rush her through.  You don’t know anythin’ about the murder, I s’pose.  You were somewhere else on the fatal night, of course—­and I can guess where.  At Brown’s, eh?”

Brown’s was a notorious gambling house on Broadway.

“Exactly, Harry.  I was at Brown’s from nine P.M. to four o’clock the following morning.  And, if I mistake not, there is a gentleman in this room who can swear to having seen me there, say from ten to eleven.”  Saying this, young Van Quintem winked hard at the coroner.

“You needn’t mince matters,” said the coroner.  “I was at Brown’s that night, and between the hours you name.  Being a public officer, I sometimes look into Brown’s, and a good many other places, too, to see that nothin’ a’n’t a-goin’ on wrong.  Ha!  I partickly ’member it, because I accidentally lost about fifty dollars there that night.  Ha! ha!”

“I think I recollect the little circumstance,” said the witness, with a smile.

“Very likely.  Ha!  Now, Myndert, of course we all understand that you are innocent; but, to satisfy the public, I guess I’d better summon a few witnesses from Brown’s, to prove you were there all night.”