"Thomas, sir," said the man, a fine specimen of the intelligent New York negro. "Thomas Jefferson."
"Well, Thomas, I am a detective, and your mistress wishes me to look into the peculiar circumstances which, as you know, have occurred. Are you willing to help me?"
"I'll do anything for the mistress, sir."
"Very good. That is quite proper. Now, then, do you remember your master's death?"
"And his funeral?"
"Yes, sir."
"You know when the undertaker and his men came and went, and how often, I presume? You let them in and saw them?"
"I let them in, yes, sir. But once or twice they went out without my knowing."
"At five o'clock on the afternoon before the funeral, I am told that Mrs. Quadrant visited the room where the body was, and ordered that the coffin should be closed for the last time. Did you know this?"