"How
did it happen?"
"That is my business," said Painter, who had followed, and who
was now filled with importance. "You look after the body, sir,
and I'll question these gentlemen and the servant."
"Servant yourself! Such sauce!" muttered Jane, with an angry
toss of her cap at the daring young policeman. "I know nothing.
I left my mistress in the parlor writing letters, and never heard
anyone come in. The bell didn't sound anyhow. The first thing I
knew that anything was wrong was on hearing the screams. When I
looked into the parlor the candles and the lamp were out, and
there was a struggle going on in the dark. Then I cried out,
very naturally, I'm sure, and ran straight into the arms of these
gentlemen, as soon as I could get the front door open."
After delivering this address, Jane was called away to assist the
doctor in the bedroom, and along with Archie and Random the
constable repaired to the pink parlor to hear what they had to
say. Of course they could tell him even less than Jane had told,
and Archie protested that he was quite unable to describe the man
who had dashed out of the window.
"Ah," said Painter sapiently, "he got out there; but how did he
enter?"
"No doubt by the door," said Random sharply.
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