“Yes,” answered Hamish. “In putting the desks straight before departing for college, my brother carried the letter into Mr. Galloway’s room and left it there. I distinctly remember his doing so.”
“Did you see the letter after that?”
“No.”
“How long did you remain alone while your brother was away?”
“I did not look at my watch,” irritably returned Hamish, who had spoken resentfully throughout, as if some great wrong were being inflicted upon him in having to speak at all.
“But you can guess at the time?”
“No, I can’t,” shortly retorted Hamish. “And ‘guesses’ are not evidence.”
“Was it ten minutes?”
“It may have been. I know he seemed to be back almost as soon as he had gone.”
“Did any person—clerk, or stranger, or visitor, or otherwise—come into the office during his absence from it?”