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death； while you were sitting a few feet away？〃
〃I？〃 Mrs。 Brewster turned and regarded him steadfastly。 She was deadly white under her rouge。 〃Mr。 Kent； are you crazy？〃
〃Yes； crazy to know why you kept your presence in the police court on Tuesday morning a secret；〃 replied Kent。 In their earnestness neither noticed Kent's absent…minded clutch on a small folded paper which he had picked up from the floor of the limousine。 〃Mrs。 Brewster； why did you laugh when Dr。 Stone carried Jimmie Turnbull out of the court room？〃
Mrs。 Brewster sat still in her corner of the car； so still that Kent； observing her closely； feared that she had fainted。 She had dropped her eyes； and her face； set like marble； gave him no key to her thoughts。
The door of the limousine was jerked open almost before the car came to a full stop in front of the McIntyre residence； and Colonel McIntyre offered his hand to help Mrs。 Brewster out。 On the step she turned to Kent； who had lifted his hat to McIntyre in silent greeting。
〃Your forte lies as a romancer rather than a lawyer； Mr。 Kent；〃 she said； and not giving him time for a reply； almost ran inside the house。
〃Glad you could get here so soon； Kent；〃 remarked McIntyre； signing to his chauffeur to drive on before he led the way into the house。 〃Grimes has worked himself almost into a fever asking for you。〃
〃Grimes？〃
〃Yes。 Grimes was attacked in our library early this morning by some unknown person； and is in bed with a bad wound on his temple and a tendency to hysteria；〃 McIntyre explained。
〃Come upstairs。〃
Kent handed his cane and hat to the footman and followed Colonel McIntyre； who stalked ahead without another word。 As they mounted the stairs Kent glanced at the folded paper which he still held； and was surprised to see that it was a check。 The signature showed him that he had unintentionally walked off with Mrs。 Brewster's property。 His decision to hand it to Colonel McIntyre was checked by the Colonel disappearing inside a bedroom； with a muttered injunction to 〃wait there；〃 and Kent stuffed the check inside his vest pocket。 It would serve as an excuse to interview Mrs。 Brewster again before leaving the house。 He was determined to have an answer to the question he had put to her in the limousine。 Why had she gone to the police court； and why kept her presence there a secret？
When Colonel McIntyre reappeared in the hall he was accompanied by Detective Ferguson。 〃Sorry to keep you standing； Kent；〃 he said。 〃I have sent for you and Ferguson； first because Grimes insists on seeing you； and second； because I am determined that this midnight house…breaking shall be thoroughly investigated and put an end to。 This way；〃 and he led them into a large airy bedroom on the third floor； to which Grimes had been carried unconscious that morning； instead of to his own bedroom in the servants' quarters。
Grimes； with his head swathed in bandages； was a woe…begone object。 He greeted Colonel McIntyre and the detective with a sullen glare； but his eyes brightened at sight of Kent； and he moved a feeble hand in welcome。
〃Sit down； sirs；〃 he mumbled。 〃There's chairs for all。〃
〃Don't worry about us；〃 remarked McIntyre cheerily。 〃Just tell us how you got that nasty knock on the head。〃
〃I dunno； sir； it came like a clap o' thunder；〃 Grimes tried to lift his head； but gave over the attempt as excruciating pain followed the effort。
〃What hour of the morning was it？〃 asked Ferguson。
〃About one o'clock； as near as I can tell； sir。〃
〃And what were you doing in the library at that hour； Grimes？〃 demanded McIntyre。
〃Trying to find out what your household was up to； sir；〃 was Grimes' unexpected answer； and McIntyre started。
〃Explain your meaning； Grimes；〃 he commanded sternly。
〃You can do it better than I can； sir；〃 retorted Grimes。 〃You know the reason every one's searching the room with the seven doors。〃
〃The room with the seven doors！〃 echoed Ferguson。 〃Which is that？〃
〃Grimes means the library。〃 McIntyre's tone was short。 〃I have no idea； Grimes； what your allegations mean。 Be more explicit。〃
The butler eyed him in no friendly fashion。 〃Wasn't Mr。 Turnbull arrested in that very room？〃 he demanded。 〃And what was he looking for？〃
〃Mr。 Turnbull's presence has been explained；〃 replied McIntyre。 〃He came here disguised as a burglar on a wager with my daughter； Miss Barbara。〃
〃Ah； did he now？〃 Grimes' rising inflection indicated nervous tension。 〃Did a man with a bad heart come here in the dead of night for nothing but that foolishness？〃 Grimes glared at his three visitors。 〃You bet he didn't。〃
Ferguson； who had followed the dialogue between McIntyre and his servant with deep attention； addressed the excited man。
〃Why did Mr。 Turnbull enter Colonel McIntyre's library on Monday night disguised as a burglar？〃 he asked。
Grimes； by a twist of his head； managed to regard the detective out of the corner of his eye。
〃Aye； why did he？〃 he repeated。 〃That's what I went to the library last night to find out。〃
〃Did you discover anything？〃 The question shot from McIntyre； and both Ferguson and Kent watched him as they waited for Grimes' reply。 The butler took his time。
〃No； sir。〃
McIntyre threw himself back in his chair and his eyebrows rose in interrogation as he touched his forehead significantly and glanced at Grimes。 That the butler caught his meaning was evident from his expression； but he said nothing。 The detective was the first to speak。
〃Did you hear any one break into the house when you were prowling around； Grimes？〃 he asked。
〃No； sir。〃
The detective turned to Colonel McIntyre。 〃After finding Grimes did you search the house？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes。 The patrolman； O'Ryan； and my new footman； Murray； went with me through the entire house； and we found all doors and windows to the front and rear of the house securely locked；〃 responded McIntyre； 〃except the window of the reception room on the ground floor。 That was closed but unlatched。〃
Kent wondered if the grimace which twisted the butler's face was meant for a smile。
〃That there window was locked when I went to bed；〃 Grimes stated with slow distinctness。 〃And I was the last person in this house to go to my room。〃
McIntyre started to speak when Ferguson stopped him。
〃Just let me handle this case；〃 he said persuasively。 〃You have called in the police；〃 and as McIntyre commenced some uncomplimentary remark； he added with sternness。 〃Don't interfere； sir。 Now； Grimes； your statements imply one of two things … some member of the household either went downstairs after you had retired； and opened the window in the reception room to admit the person who afterwards attacked you in the library； or〃 … Ferguson paused significantly； 〃some member of this household knocked you senseless in the library。 Which was it？〃
There was a tense silence。 McIntyre； by an obvious effort； refrained from speech as they waited for Grimes' answer。
〃I dunno who hit me。〃 Grimes avoided looking at the three men。 〃But some one did； and that window in the reception room was locked when I went upstairs to my bedroom after every one had retired。 I'm telling you God's truth； sir。〃
McIntyre eyed him in wrathful silence； then turned to his companions。
〃The blow has knocked Grimes silly；〃 he commented。 〃There is certainly no motive for any of us to attack Grimes； nor has any trace of a weapon been found such as must have been used against Grimes。 O'Ryan and I looked particularly for it； after removing Grimes from the Venetian casket； where my daughter Helen； Mrs。 Brewster and I discovered him lying unconscious。〃
〃What's this Venetian casket like？〃 asked Ferguson before Kent could question McIntyre。
〃It is a fine sample of carving of the Middle Ages；〃 replied McIntyre。 〃I purchased the pair when in Venice years ago。 They are over six feet in length； about three feet wide； and rest on a carved base。 There is a door at the end through which it was customary in the Middle Ages to slide the body； after embalming； for the funeral ceremonies； after which the body was removed； placed in another casket and buried。 There is a square opening or peep hole on the top of the casket through which you can look at the body； a cleverly concealed door covers this opening。 In fact；〃 added McIntyre； 〃the door at the end is not at first discernible； and is hard to open； unless one has the knack of doing so。〃
〃Hum！ It looks as if whoever put Grimes inside the casket was familiar with it；〃 remarked Ferguson dryly； and McIntyre bit his lip。 〃Guess I'll go and take a look at the casket。 I'll come back； Grimes。〃
Kent rose with the others and started to follow them to the door； but Grimes beckoned him to approach the bed。 The butler waited until he heard McIntyre's heavy tread and the lighter footfall of the detective recede down the hall before speaking。
〃I was only going to say； sir；〃 he whispered as Kent； at a sign from him； stooped over the bed； 〃I got a box of aconitine pills for Mrs。 Brewster on Sunday … the stuff that poisoned Mr。 Turnbull；〃 he paused to explain。
〃Yes； go on；〃 urged Kent； catching the man's excitement。 〃You gave it to Mrs。 Brewster …〃
〃No； sir；