"You did not chance to see anyone when you applied your eye to the key-hole?" went on McKelvie, putting aside his conjectures.
"No, I saw no one."
"You are acquainted with the details of Mr. Darwin's business, are you not?" McKelvie remarked, abruptly changing the subject.
"Yes, I'm conversant with a good deal of it," responded Orton.
"Is it true that he removed his securities from Cunningham's office and used them to speculate with?" continued McKelvie.
"I suppose so since the lawyer says it. I myself never even knew he had those securities. I attended strictly to his business in connection with the bank, answering letters, arranging committee meetings, taking notes of any agreements the directors came to, and so on. He speculated with his own private funds, and advised his brokers himself, so I know nothing beyond the fact that his transactions were large," answered Orton.
"You didn't hear any rumors that he was speculating in M. and R. stock, for instance?"
"Well, yes, he told me himself that he was going to take a chance on it," replied Orton after a slight hesitation.
"He didn't happen to mention that he was ruined, did he, on the afternoon of the seventh?" insisted McKelvie.
"Ruined!" Orton's eyes fairly popped with amazement. "No, I had no idea it was as bad as that."