Part 10 (1/2)
”He was.”
”Did he know the value of the jewel?”
”I do not know. I think the matter was mentioned at the table.”
”You had agreed to give your daughter's hand in marriage to Mr. Ashton, in return for obtaining for you this jewel. Is that true?”
”Yes,” the Major faltered.
”Was your daughter opposed to this arrangement?”
”She was.”
”And you insisted upon it?”
”I had given my word as a gentleman.”
”The securing of the jewel, then, from Mr. Ashton would have released her from the arrangement?”
”If Mr. Ashton had not had it, he could not have carried out his agreement, of course.”
”At what time did you retire on the night of the murder?”
”Shortly before midnight.”
”After Mr. Ashton?”
”Yes--I saw him to his room.”
”After that you retired at once?”
”Yes.”
”Did you wake during the night?”
”Not until I was aroused by Mr. Morgan's cries--about daybreak, or a little before.”
”Was it light?”
”Hardly--it was just before sunrise.”
”You did not leave your room, from the time you retired, until you heard Mr. Morgan's cries?”
”No.”
”What did you do then?”
”I threw on some clothing and ran along the hall into the west wing. I sleep at the other end of the house in the east wing. When I arrived at Mr. Ashton's door, Mr. Morgan was trying to open it. My man, Gibson, who also heard the cries, came along, followed by one of the maids.”
”Did your daughter join you?”