These were handed to the jury for examination.

“Ernest Smedley,” said counsel.

Mills’s servant stepped into the box, and was sworn.

“Between, let us say June 21st and June 24th, did the prisoner call at Mr. Mills’s flat?”

“Yes, sir, twice.”

“When?”

“Once on the evening of June 23d, and once very early next morning.”

“Did he go in?”

“Yes, sir, he came in on both occasions.”

“What for?”

“To satisfy himself that Mr. Mills had not come back.”

“Did he write anything?”

“No, sir.”

“How do you know that?”

“I went with him from room to room, and should have seen if he had done so.”

“Did anybody else enter the flat during those days?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Taynton.”

The whole court seemed to give a great sigh; then it was quiet again.  The judge put down the pen with which he had been taking notes, and like the rest of the persons present he only listened.

“When did Mr. Taynton come into the flat?”

“About mid-day or a little later on Friday.”

“June 24th?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Please tell the jury what he did?”

The counsel for the prosecution stood up.

“I object to that question,” he said.

The judge nodded at him; then looked at the witness again.  The examination went on.

“You need not answer that question.  I put it to save time, merely.  Did Mr. Taynton go into the deceased’s sitting-room?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did he write anything there?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Was he alone there?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you.”

Again the examining counsel paused, and again no question was asked by the prosecution.

“Charles Martin,” said the counsel for defence.

“You are a servant of the prisoner’s?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You were in his service during this week of June, of which Friday was June 24th?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Describe the events—­No.  Did the prisoner go up to town, or elsewhere on that day, driving his motorcar, but leaving you in Brighton?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mrs. Assheton came back that morning?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did anyone call that morning?  If so, who?”

“Mr. Taynton called.”

“Did he go to the drawing-room?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Did he write anything there?”

“Yes, sir; he wrote a note to Mrs. Assheton, which he gave me when he went out.”

“You were not in the drawing-room, when he wrote it?”

“No, sir.”

“Did he say anything to you when he left the house?”

“Yes, sir,”

“What did he say?”

The question was not challenged now.

“He told me to say that he had left the note at the door.”