"I've come down from New York," I explained, "at the request of Mr. Curtiss to assist him in finding Miss Lawrence. You, I believe, are the last person who is known to have seen her. I'd like to ask you a few questions."
"Go ahead," he said, beaming with self-importance. "I'll be glad to tell you anything I know, sir."
"Do you remember what time it was when you called Miss Lawrence down to have a last look at the decorations?"
"It must have been nearly half-past eleven, sir. I remember hearing a clock strike eleven and thinking it'd take me about half an hour to get through."
"Did you notice anything peculiar in her behaviour?"
"Peculiar? No, sir. She was very kind and said some nice things about my work."
"She did not seem sad nor depressed?"
"Oh, no, sir; quite the contrary."
"When she left you, did she return upstairs?"
"I think so, sir. At least, she started for the stairs. I stepped into the dining-room for a moment to make sure everything was all right, and when I came out again she was gone."