The Search

"But he may have come through the door, my good girl," suggested Mr.
Berners, whose very blood seemed to freeze at this testimony of the
maid.

"Nay, nay, laird! that will na do either. The murderer could na hae come
by the outer door, for mysel' bolted it before I went to bed! And it was
still bolted when my puir leddy--Oh, my puir bonny leddy! oh! my puir
dear murdered mistress!" broke forth from the girl in sudden and violent
lamentations.

"Compose yourself, and tell us all about the bolted door," said Judge
Basham.

"Aweel, sir, the door was bolted by mysel', and bolted it stayed until
that puir leddy started out of her bed and tore the bolt back, and fled
away from before the face of her murderer! too late! oh, too late! for
she carried her death wound with her."

"So you see, Mr. Berners, your theory of the murder falls to pieces.
This girl's testimony proves that the murderer could not have entered
the room, from this floor," said Judge Basham.

"Then he must have been concealed in the room," exclaimed Lyon,
desperately.

"Nay, nay! that will na do either, laird. Na mon was hid in the room.
Mysel' looked into all the closets, and under the bed, and up the
chimney, as I always do before I go to sleep. I could na sleep else.
Nay, nay, laird! The murderer came in neither by outer door nor window,
nor yet lay hidden in the room; for mysel' had fastened the outer door
and window, and searched the room before I slept. Nay, nay, laird! The
murderer cam by the only way left open--left open because we thought it
was safe--the way leading from Mistress Berners' room down to the
little stairs, and through this door which was not bolted," persisted
the Scotch girl.