The Eye of Osiris

by R. Austin Freeman

"The window and the gate both have catches on the [Transcriber's note: possibly missing words: 'inside. Could it'] have been possible for Mr. Bellingham to let himself out into the lane?"

"The window and gate both have catches on the inside. He could have got out that way, but, of course he didn't."

"Why not?"

"Well, no gentleman would go creeping out the back way like a thief."

"Did you look to see if the French window was shut and fastened after you missed Mr. Bellingham?"

"I looked at it when we shut the house up for the night. It was then shut and fastened on the inside."

"And the side gate?"

"That gate was shut and latched. You have to slam the gate to make the latch fasten, so no one could have gone out of the gate without being heard."

Here the examination-in-chief ended, and Mr. Loram sat down with an audible sigh of relief. Miss Dobbs was about to step down from the witness-box when Mr. Heath rose to cross-examine.

"Did you see Mr. Bellingham in a good light?" he asked.