When he had done washing his hands, he took something from his
coat-pocket, and looked at it, shaking his head; at this time he was
standing with his back turned toward the boy, so that he could not see
what this object might be. The man, however, put it into his breast, and
then began to search hurriedly, as it seemed, for some hiding place for
it. After looking at the pavement, and poking at the chinks of the wall,
he suddenly went to the window, and forced up the stone which formed the
sill. Under this he threw the object which the boy had seen him examine
with so much perplexity, and then he readjusted the stone, and removed
the evidences of its having been recently stirred. The boy was a little
frightened, but very curious about all that he saw; and when the man left
the stable in which he lay, he got up, and following to the door, peeped
after him. He saw him putting on an outside-coat and hat, near the yard
gate; and then, with great caution, unbolt the wicket, constantly looking
back towards the house, and so let himself out. The boy was uneasy, and
sat in the hay, wide-awake, until morning. He then told the servants what
he had seen, and one of the men having raised the stone, which he had not
strength to lift, they found the dagger, which Smith had identified as
belonging to his master. This weapon was stained with blood; and some
hair, which was found to correspond in color with Sir Wynston's, was
sticking in the crevice between the blade and the handle. "It appears very strange that one man should have employed two
distinct instruments of this kind," observed Mervyn, after a pause. A
silence followed. "Yes, strange; it does seem strange," said Marston, clearing his voice. "Yet, it is clear," said another of the jury, "that the same hand did
employ them. It is proved that the knife was in Merton's possession just
as he left his chamber; and proved, also, that the dagger was secreted by
him after he quitted the house." "Yes," said Marston, with a grisly sort of smile, and glancing
sarcastically at Mervyn, while he addressed the last speaker--"I thank
you for recalling my attention to the facts. It certainly is not a very
pleasant suggestion, that there still remains within my household an
undetected murderer." Mervyn ruminated for a time, and said he should wish to put a few more
questions to Smith and Carney. They were accordingly recalled, and
examined in great detail, with a view to ascertain whether any indication
of the presence of a second person having visited the chamber with Merton
was discoverable. Nothing, however, appeared, except that the valet
mentioned the noise and the exclamations which he had indistinctly heard. "You did not mention that before, sir," said Marston, sharply. "I did not think of it, sir," replied the man, "the gentlemen were asking
me so many questions; but I told you, sir, about it in the morning." "Oh, ah--yes, yes--I believe you did," said Marston; "but you then said
that Sir Wynston often talked when he was alone; eh, sir?" "Yes, sir, and so he used, which was the reason I did not go into the
room when I heard it," replied the man. "How long afterwards was it when you saw Merton in your own room?" asked Mervyn. "I could not say, sir," answered Smith; "I was soon asleep, and can't say
how long I slept before he came." "Was it an hour?" pursued Mervyn. "I can't say," said the man, doubtfully. "Was it five hours?" asked Marston. "No, Sir; I am sure it was not five." "Could you swear it was more than half-an-hour?" persisted Marston. "No, I could not swear that," answered he. "I am afraid, Mr. Mervyn; you have found a mare's nest," said Marston,
contemptuously. "I have done my duty, sir," retorted Mervyn, cynically; "which plainly
requires that I shall have no doubt, which the evidence of the witness
can clear up, unsifted and unsatisfied. I happened to think it of some
moment to ascertain, if possible, whether more persons than one were
engaged in this atrocious murder. You don't seem to think the question so
important a one; different men, sir, take different views." "Views, sir, in matters of this sort, especially where they tend to
multiply suspicions, and to implicate others, ought to be supported by
something more substantial than mere fancies," retorted Marston. "I don't know what you call fancies," replied Mervyn, testily; "but here
are two deadly weapons, a knife and a dagger, each, it would seem,
employed in doing this murder; if you see nothing odd in that, I can't
enable you to do so." "Well, sir," said Marston, grimly, "the whole thing is, as you term it,
odd; and I can see no object in your picking out this particular
singularity for long-winded criticism, except to cast scandal upon my
household, by leaving a hideous and vague imputation floating among the
members of it. Sir, sir, this is a foul way," he cried, sternly, "to
gratify a paltry spite." "Mr. Marston," said Mervyn, rising, and thrusting his hands into his
pockets, while he confronted him to the full as sternly, "the country
knows in which of our hearts the spite, if any there be between us, is
harbored. I owe you no friendship, but, sir, I cherish no malice, either;
and against the worst enemy I have on earth I am incapable of perverting
an opportunity like this, and inflicting pain, under the pretence of
discharging a duty." Marston was on the point of retorting, but the coroner interposed, and
besought them to confine their attention strictly to the solemn inquiry
which they were summoned together to prosecute. There remained still to be examined the surgeon who had accompanied the
coroner, for the purpose of reporting upon the extent and nature of
the injuries discoverable upon the person of the deceased. He,
accordingly, deposed, that having examined the body, he found no less
than three deep wounds, inflicted with some sharp instrument; two of them
had actually penetrated the heart, and were, of course, supposed to cause
instant death. Besides these, there were two contusions, one upon the
back of the head, the other upon the forehead, with a slight abrasion of
the eyebrow. There was a large lock of hair torn out by the roots at the
front of the head, and the palm and fingers of the right hand were cut. This evidence having been taken, the jury once more repaired to the
chamber where the body lay, and proceeded with much minuteness to examine
the room, with a view to ascertain, if possible, more particularly the
exact circumstances of the murder. The result of this elaborate scrutiny was as follows:--The deceased,
they conjectured, had fallen asleep in his easy chair, and, while he was
unconscious, the murderer had stolen into the room, and, before attacking
his victim, had secured the bedroom-door upon the inside. This was argued
from the non-discovery of blood upon the handle, or any other part of the
door.