"At what time was this, can you say?"
"At four, or nearly four. It was half-past three when I left my office."
"Was it light at that hour? Could you distinguish objects readily?"
"I had no difficulty in seeing."
"And what did you see? Anything amiss at the Van Burnam mansion?"
"No, sir, nothing amiss. I merely saw Howard Van Burnam coming down the stoop as I went by the corner."
"You made no mistake. It was the gentleman you name, and no other whom you saw on this stoop at this hour?"
"I am very sure that it was he. I am sorry——"
But the Coroner gave him no opportunity to finish.
"You and Mr. Van Burnam are friends, you say, and it was light enough for you to recognize each other; then you probably spoke?"