"Gimp," said his master, sharply, "do you remember the day Mr. Melstane called?"
"Then tell these gentlemen all about it."
Gimp at once addressed himself to Fanks, who stood by the table with one hand on the jar of morphia and the other in his pocket, looking at the servant to see if he was speaking the truth.
"Mr. Melstane called, sir," said the respectable Gimp, deliberately, "a few weeks ago to see my master. He saw him, and I believe, sir, they had words."
Spolger nodded his head to affirm that such was the case. "I was called in, sir, to show Mr. Melstane out. I did so, and he swore awful."
"I came back, sir, to this room, and found my master much agitated--nerves, I think, sir."
"My master pointed to a pill-box on the floor, and told me to run after Mr. Melstane with it. I did so, but could not see him, so I took the pill-box down to Mr. Melstane's lodgings that evening."
"The pill-box was in your possession the whole time?"
"Yes, sir! It was wrapped in white paper, and sealed with red wax, sir. I didn't know it was a pill-box till master told me."
"And I knew it was, because Melstane held it out to me and asked me if I made pills like that," said Spolger, savagely. "Well, Mr. Axton, I hope you are satisfied."
"Perfectly," said Fanks, with great politeness; "but please tell me, when did you use this morphia last?"
"Not for months," replied Spolger; "the pills are made at the factory, and I never trouble about them. I don't know if you've noticed it, sir, in your desire to make out a case against me, but that bottle is tied with string across the stopper and sealed."
"Ah! that's the very thing I'm coming to. The seal is broken."
"Impossible!" cried Spolger, coming to the table to examine the bottle; "I haven't used it for a long time, and sealed it when I last used it! Gimp, how is this?"
"I'm sure I don't know, sir; the bottle ain't been touched to my knowledge."
"None of the servants," said Spolger, after a pause;
"Well, now and then I see some one here--just like yourselves."
There was a faint hesitation in his tone, which Fanks was quick to detect, and which prompted his next question: "Has Mr. Marson been in here?"
"Oh, yes! both the ladies have been here; but they would not touch any of my drugs. They know how particular I am."