At this point a pencilled note was handed by the coroner to Mr. Whitney, who immediately summoned George Hardy and hastily despatched him on some errand.
"Mr. Scott," resumed the coroner, "were you in Mr. Mainwaring's private library at any time during last evening?"
"I was not. I spent the entire evening in my own room."
"When did you again see Mr. Mainwaring?"
"Not until after eleven o'clock. I had come down for a smoke in the grounds outside and met Mr. Mainwaring in the lower hall on the way to his rooms. He asked me to come to his library before retiring, as he wished to give some final directions for the next day. About half an hour later I went to the library door, but hearing loud and angry talk within, I waited in the hall some fifteen or twenty minutes until I knew Mr. Mainwaring was alone. I then entered, received his instructions, and went directly to my room for the night."
"Were you able to recognize the voices or hear any of the conversation?"
"I was. I recognized the voice of the housekeeper, Mrs. LaGrange; but feeling that I was hearing what was not intended for me, I walked back into the main hall and remained there until Mrs. LaGrange came out."
"You saw her leave the library?"
"Yes, sir; I passed her in the corridor."
"She saw you, of course?"