“Very well, sir.” But his eyes went from one to the other of us.
“You were in the employ of Mr. Wells. We know that. Also we saw you there the night he died, but some time after his death. What time did you get in that night?”
“About midnight. I am not certain.”
“Who told you of what had happened?”
“I told you that before. I met the detectives going out.”
“Exactly. Now, Hawkins, you had come in, locked the door, and placed the key outside for the other servants?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How do you expect us to believe that?” Sperry demanded irritably. “There was only one key. Could you lock yourself in and then place the key outside?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied impassively. “By opening the kitchen window, I could reach out and hang it on the nail.”
“You were out of the house, then, at the time Mr. Wells died?”