Sir Everard Kingsland has been my friend and benefactor from the first.

I have been treated as a confidential friend both by him and his mother." "By the deceased Lady Kingsland also, I conclude ?" "I was in the late Lady Kingsland's confidence--yes." "You were the last who saw her alive on the night of March tenth--the night of the murder ?" "I was." "Where did you part from her ?" "At her own chamber door.

We bade each other good-night, and I retired to rest immediately." "What hour was that ?" "About ten minutes before eleven." "What communication were you making to Lady Kingsland at that hour ?" "I came to tell her the household had all retired--that she could quit the house unobserved whenever she chose." "You knew, then, that she had an assignation for that night ?" "I did.

It was I who brought her the message.

She was to meet Mr.
Parmalee at midnight, on the stone terrace." "Who was this Mr.Parmalee ?" "An American gentleman--a traveling photographic artist, between whom and my lady a secret existed." "A secret unknown to her husband ?" "Yes." "And this secret was the cause of their mysterious midnight meeting ?" "It was.