“What kind of looking men were they?”

“I could not see.”

“How was that? Didn’t they have a light?”

“Yes, but they were masked.”

“Well, what followed of which you have any knowledge?”

“I lay still for some time after they had left my room, and then I began trying to force myself loose from my bonds.”

“You succeeded at last?”

“I did. It took me all of a couple of hours to get my hands free, and as they had tied me to the bed and I had nothing in the shape of a knife at hand, I was then compelled to undo those other knots, which took me the best part of another hour. When I was free at last I went down to the floor below and entered the master’s room.”

“And saw what?”

“Mr. Field lying on the floor.”