XXV
TIMOTHY COOK
"Look here upon this picture and on this."
Hamlet.
I STARED at him in amazement.
"I doubt if it will be so very difficult," said he. Then, in a sudden burst, "Where is the man Cook?"
"He is below with Q."
"That was a wise move; let us see the boys; have them up."
Stepping to the door I called them.
"I expected, of course, you would want to question them," said I, coming back.
In another moment the spruce Q and the shock-headed Cook entered the room.
"Ah," said Mr. Gryce, directing his attention at the latter in his own whimsical, non-committal way; "this is the deceased Mr. Stebbins’ hired man, is it? Well, you look as though you could tell the truth."
"I usually calculate to do that thing, sir; at all events, I was never called a liar as I can remember."
"Of course not, of course not," returned the affable detective. Then, without any further introduction: "What was the first name of the lady you saw married in your master’s house last summer?"
"Bless me if I know! I don’t think I heard, sir."
"But you recollect how she looked?"
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