The first intimation which he had received of any unusual occurrence the next morning was when his mother entered his room and told him that Mr.Mainwaring had either been murdered or had committed suicide, no one knew which.
"Was that her only object in coming to your room ?" "No, sir; she wanted me to do an errand for her." "Will you state the nature of this errand ?" "It was only to deliver a note." "To whom ?" "To Mr.Hobson," the young man answered weakly, while his mother frowned, the first sign of emotion of any kind which she had betrayed that day.
"Did you deliver the note ?" "Yes, sir." "Then, under your mother's orders, you went to the city on your second trip, did you not ?" "Y-yes, sir." "Were you successful in finding Mr.Hobson there ?" "Yes, sir," the witness answered sullenly.
"You had other business in the city aside from meeting him, had you not ?" Between the coroner's persistence and his mother's visible signs of displeasure, Walter LaGrange was fast losing his temper.
"If you know so much about this business, I don't see the use of your questioning me," he retorted angrily.

"It's no affair of mine anyway; I had nothing to do with it, nor I won't be mixed up in it; and if you want any information you'd better ask mother for it; it's her business and none of mine." After a few more questions, which the witness answered sullenly and in monosyllables, he was dismissed.
"Mr.Higgenbotham," announced the coroner.

The greatest surprise was manifested on every side as the senior member of a well-known firm of jewellers stepped forward; the same gentleman who had accompanied Mr.Whitney on his return from the city on the preceding day.
"Mr.Higgenbotham," said the coroner, "I believe you are able to furnish some testimony which will be pertinent at this time." "Yes, Dr.Westlake," responded the other, in deep, musical tones, "I think possibly I can render you a little assistance in your investigations." "Mr.Higgenbotham, do you recognize the young gentleman who has just given his testimony ?" "I do, sir," said the witness, adjusting a pair of eyeglasses and gazing steadily at Walter LaGrange.

"I recall his features perfectly." "You were personally acquainted with the late Hugh Mainwaring, I believe ?" "Yes, sir, intimately acquainted with him." "You are, I believe, familiar with the Mainwaring jewels which are now missing ?" continued the coroner.
Walter LaGrange looked uncomfortable and his mother's cheek paled.
"I am, sir; having had them repeatedly left in my possession for safe keeping during their owner's absence from home; and I have also a complete list of them, with a detailed description of every piece." "Very well, Mr.Higgenbotham, will you now please state when, and under what circumstances, you saw this young gentleman ?" "I was seated in my private office yesterday morning, when my head clerk came in and asked me to step out into the salesrooms for a moment, as he said a young man was there trying to sell some very fine jewels, and, from his youth and his ignorance of their value, he feared something was wrong.

I went out immediately and saw this young gentleman, who handed me for inspection a superb diamond brooch and an elegant necklace of diamonds and pearls.