This could be the more readily understood when, as a little investigation showed, we found that they had all slept with doors locked and windows closed and shuttered.  Any sounds from the house would really have to penetrate two doors to reach them, for their rooms were at the end of an entry, closed by an outer door.  As to the windows, it was the rule of the house that they should always be closed and tightly shuttered during the night.  They knew of no especial reason for the rule, though the Irish girl remarked that, with heathen in the house and lunatics, there was no telling how the nights were spent.

They were all evidently innocent of any connection with the tragedy; but Goldberger, for some ridiculous reason, brought them downstairs with him and made them look at their master’s body.  This had no result except to send the Irish girl into hysterics, and Hinman for a few minutes had another patient on his hands.

“Well,” said Goldberger, passing his hand wearily across his forehead, “I guess there’s nothing more to be done.  And I’m dead tired.  I had just got to bed when Simmonds called me.  I’ll set the inquest for ten o’clock to-morrow morning, and I’ll hold it here in this room.  We’ll want you here, Mr. Godfrey, and you, Mr. Lester.  And—­oh, yes,” he added suddenly, “we’ll want that Mr. Swain, whose story I haven’t heard yet.  No doubt of his appearing is there?”

“Absolutely none,” I assured him.

“I could put him under guard, of course,” said Goldberger, pensively, “for I’m sure he’ll prove to be a very important witness; but if you will be personally responsible for him, Mr. Lester....”

“I will,” I agreed, and Goldberger nodded.

“Have him here at ten o’clock, then,” he said.

“Dr. Hinman would better see him again to-day,” I suggested.

“I’ll call about four o’clock this afternoon,” the doctor promised; and, leaving Goldberger to complete his arrangements and Simmonds to post his men, Godfrey and I stepped out upon the lawn.

It was after five o’clock and the sun was already high.  It scarcely seemed possible that, only six hours before, Swain had crossed the wall for the first time!

“We’d better go out as we came,” Godfrey said, and turned across the lawn.  He walked with head down and face puckered with thought.

“Can you make anything of it?” I asked, but he only shook his head.

We soon reached the ladder, and Godfrey paused to look about him.  The shrubbery was broken in one place, as though some heavy body had fallen on it, and this was evidently the mark of Swain’s wild jump from the wall.

At last, Godfrey motioned me to precede him, and, when I was over, reached one ladder down to me and descended to my side.  We replaced the ladders against the shed, and then walked on toward the house.  As we turned the corner, we found Mrs. Hargis standing on the front porch.

“Well, you are out early!” she said.