“Then David Florey was not on duty that night?”
“I didn’t watch Mr. Florey closely, Mr. Weldon. He was the kind of servant that didn’t seem to require watching. He helped me serve some cold drinks immediately after dinner. I didn’t see him again.”
“You don’t know at what hour he ventured out into the lawns?”
“I do not. I was under the impression that he was in the pantry or hall for several hours after dinner. I can not say definitely.”
“And now will you describe the crime—that is, what you yourself heard and saw?”
“Beginning where?”
“At the beginning. Where you were, who was with you, and all you can tell me.”
“I was in this room. I don’t know the exact time—it must have been close to midnight. My guests were here with me.”
“All of them?”
Nealman paused, seemingly considerably disturbed. “I can’t say that all of them were in my immediate sight,” he replied at last. “My guests were free of the house—some of them were at the billiard tables, others in the library, and so on. I can say definitely that Mr. Marten, Mr. Van Hope, and Mr. Killdare were in the room. Mr. Pescini was with us until just before we heard the sound.”