"Was there any one else in the hall?"
"No, sir; I think not; not just at that moment, though of course people were passing back and forth through it all the time."
"Did you notice a man loitering about—a stranger—middle-aged, dark-complexioned, with a dark beard or moustache—rather striking in appearance—perhaps a little dissolute?"
"No, sir," he answered, with a stare of surprise. "I didn't see any stranger about the whole morning—nobody I didn't know."
I confess I was rather disappointed; I had hoped that my shot would tell.
"And you heard no unusual noise—no scream, nor anything of that sort."
"No, sir; though I was so busy and worried I dare say I wouldn't have heard a cannon-shot."
"When did you learn that something was wrong?"
"I heard Mrs. Lawrence asking if any one had seen her daughter. Then she sent some of the servants to look for her."
"What time was that?"