“I was a clerk in the Department of Justice for over two years, in fact, ever since I have resided in this city.”
“Then you are not a native of Washington?”
“No. My father was in the Consular Service. At the time of my birth, he was vice consul at Naples, and I was born in that city. I lived abroad until two years and a half ago.”
“You were the first to find Mrs. Trevor, were you not?”
“Yes. I always reach here at eight o’clock to sort and arrange the mail for the Attorney General. He breakfasts at that time, and usually joins me in the private office twenty minutes later. At five minutes of nine we leave for the Department. This is the everyday routine—” he hesitated.
“And yesterday, Mr. Clark?”
“I arrived a few minutes earlier than usual, as there were some notes which I had to transcribe before the Attorney General left for the Department. I went immediately to the office.”
“Did you notice any signs of confusion, or unusual disturbance in the room?”
“No. Everything was apparently just as I had left it the night before. I started to typewrite my notes but had not proceeded very far when I found I needed to refer to some papers which were in the safe. So I went....”
“One moment. You know the combination?”