Two maid-servants from “The Silver Fleece Inn” were the next witnesses. These testified to the time when Robert Durnford had gone out on the Sunday night, but were unable to state the hour of his return. One of them declared she had heard the stranger talking to the waiter in the hall at a quarter-past ten, and that she thought she had heard the front door close just before. Upon her Mr Windgate pounced.
“Your bed-room is at the top of the house?”
“Yes, sir. But the ’ouse isn’t an ’igh one.”
“I didn’t ask you that. Now, how do you know it was a quarter-past ten? Had you a watch?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you looked at it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Was it keeping the right time?”
“Yes, sir. That is, I set it by the large clock in the passage.”
“When?”