“Is he an old family servant?”
“No. He has only been in Carew’s employ about a year I am told. He knows how to handle horses, and took excellent care of the Senator’s valuable stable.”
“That probably explains why he was kept on,” said Douglas. “I’ve been told that Carew was hipped about his horses.”
“Yes. I gathered from Mrs. Winthrop that Hamilton has been drinking steadily, and his conduct to the other servants grew intolerable. Senator Carew had to discharge him.”
“When did that happen?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
“Then, how was it that he was driving the carriage last night?”
“Oh, Carew gave him a week’s notice, said he couldn’t fill his place at once, and told him to stay on. Joshua tells me that Hamilton uttered some ugly threats in the kitchen that evening, but that the servants paid no attention to his black humor, as they saw he had been drinking.”
“I see in the papers that Hamilton vehemently declares his innocence.”