"No. I drove straight there from Feldisham Mansions."
"Did you dress for dinner?"
"No. My friends and I discussed certain new regulations as to the proposed international polo tournament, and it was nearly eight o'clock before we concluded the business of the meeting, so we arranged to dine in the grill-room and go to a Vaudeville entertainment afterwards."
That statement had puzzled the coroner. He referred to his notes.
"To the Vaudeville?" he queried. "I thought you went to the Empire Theater?" and Osborne explained that Americans spoke of "vaudeville" in the same sense as Englishmen use the word "music-hall" or "variety."
"You were with your friends during the whole time between 6.30 p.m. and midnight?"
"Practically. I left them for a few minutes before dinner, but only to go to the writing-room, where I wrote two short letters."
"At what hour, as nearly as you can recollect?"
"About ten minutes to eight. I glanced at the clock when the letters were posted, as I wished to be sure of catching the American mail."
"Were both letters addressed to correspondents in America?"