She left Miss Loach seated in her usual chair near the fire, and with a pack of cards on her lap.

Probably the deceased lady intended to play a game of 'Patience'! "The four servants, three women and a man, had their supper.

During the supper the man asserted that he heard the front door open, but as Miss Loach was in the habit of walking in the garden before retiring, it was thought that she had gone out to take her usual stroll.

Whether the man heard the door open or shut he was not quite sure.

However, thinking his mistress was walking in the garden as usual, the man paid no further attention to the incident.