Mr. Moore did not accompany me.
The major was standing in the hall. The others had evidently
retreated to the parlor.
"The man opposite knows what he knows," said I; "but this does not
include the facts concerning the picture in the southwest chamber
or the devilish mechanism."
"You are sure?"
"As positive as one of my inexperience can be. But, Major, I am
equally positive that he knows more than he should of Mrs. Jeffrey's
death. I am even ready to state that in my belief he was in the
house when it occurred."
"Has he acknowledged this?"
"Not at all."
"Then what are your reasons for this belief?"
"They are many"
"Will you state them?"
"Gladly, if you will pardon the presumption. Some of my conclusions
can not be new to you. The truth is that I have possibly seen more
of this old man than my duty warranted, and I feel quite ready to
declare that he knows more of what has taken place in this house
than he is ready to avow. I am sure that he has often visited it
in secret and knows about a certain broken window as well as we do.
I am also sure that he was here on the night of Mrs. Jeffrey's
suicide. He was too little surprised when I informed him of what
had happened not to have had some secret inkling of it beforehand,
even if we had not the testimony of the lighted candle and the book
he so hurriedly replaced.
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