tragic results of our misunderstanding.'
'I don't think that any blame can be attached to you,' observed the coroner benignly. 'All of us have made similar mistakes even in normal circumstances, and in a moment of excitement like that they are still more understandable. The tragic results of the mistake were due to a combination of causes for which you and Mr Fairweather can scarcely be held responsible.'
He turned pointedly and challengingly towards the jury.
'Any questions?' he barked.
He seemed to be daring them to ask any questions.
'Yus,' said the black-bearded little man.
The coroner discovered him again with fresh evidence of distaste. His brows drew together ominously, as if it had just occurred to him to wonder who had been responsible for including such an impossible person in the quorum, and as if he were making a mental note to issue a severe reprimand to the party concerned. He tapped impatiently on the table with his finger tips.
'Well?'
'I suppose you all 'ad wine with your dinner, and when you went into the libry you 'ad more drinks,' said the little juryman. ' 'Ow many drinks did you 'ave and 'ow many did Mr Kennet 'ave?'
Luker shrugged.
'Some of us had a little wine with dinner, certainly; and after dinner there was whiskey and soda in the library. I can't say exactly how much we had, but it was certainly a very moderate amount.'
'Kennet wasn't drunk, was 'e?'
'Certainly not.'
'Then why didn't 'e 'ear the alarm?'
Luker looked appealingly at the coroner, who said: 'That is hardly a question which the witness can be expected to answer.'
He looked at the jury as if inviting them to dissociate themselves from their one discreditable member; and the foreman, a smeary individual with a lock of hair plastered down over his forehead, said ingratiatingly: 'He might 've been a heavy sleeper.'
'From the evidence, that seems to be the only reasonable explanation,' said the coroner firmly. 'Thank you, Mr Luker.'
General Sangore and his wife briefly corroborated what had been told before. They had been wakened by the fire alarms, they left the house, and it was not until later that they realized that Kennet was missing. Lady Valerie gave evidence of being rescued by Captain Knightley and of being the first to notice that Kennet was not outside. The chauffeur gave evidence of having met Luker on the drive and of having gone back to call the fire brigade. He had had a lot of difficulty in getting through, and consequently had been detained too long to see much of what went on at the house.
None of these witnesses were questioned. The black-bearded juryman, temporarily discouraged, had relapsed into frustrated scowling.
The coroner shuffled his papers again with an air of returning equanimity. No doubt he was feeling that he had now got the situation well in hand.
'Next witness, please.'
'Simon Templar,' called the sergeant.
III
