"Not directly, but I was an officer of the company, and beside—"
"Indirectly, then, you benefited?"
"Yes, indirectly."
"That is all, Mr. Hart."
A few more questions were asked by the coroner about the inspection of the building by Murphy and Lagrange, and also in regard to the architect's previous relations with the Graves Company. Then the witness was excused.
When the architect stepped back into the room, he saw Wheeler sitting beside Helen in the rear. They waited for him at the door, and together the three went out to the street. The lawyer, who had reached the hearing in time for most of the testimony, smiled rather grimly as he remarked to his cousin:—
"Well, Jack, you gave them about everything they were after! You needn't have turned yourself quite inside out."
"It was perfect!" Helen exclaimed, taking her husband's arm. "Everything you said was right. I wouldn't have had you change a word."
Wheeler buttoned his coat against the east wind and smiled tolerantly at the woman's fervor.
"Will that be all, Everett?" she asked a little defiantly.