26 The Book of Cats. 



a few moments remained gazing on the dreadful 

 spectacle almost paralysed. Then came the specu- 

 lation who could have done so cruel a deed ? An 

 old man murdered sleeping — a good man, beloved 

 by his parishioners and scarcely known beyond the 

 narrow circle of his rural home. It was his duty to 

 investigate the mystery, so he composed his coun- 

 tenance as well as he was able, and going to the 

 door of the room, called for a servant. 



The man who had waited at table presently ap- 

 peared, rubbing his eyes, for he, too, had been 

 asleep. 



" Tell me who has been into this room while I 

 was in the garden." 



" Nobody, your reverence ; no one ever disturbs 

 the master during his siesta." 



He then asked the servant where he had been, and 

 was told in the* ante-room. He next enquired 

 whether any person had been in or out of the house, 

 or if he had heard any movement or voice in the 

 room, and also how many fellow-servants the man 

 had. He was told that he had heard no noise or 

 voices, and that he had two fellow-servants — the 

 cook and a little boy. His reverence demanded 

 that they should be brought in, that he might 

 question them. 



