The Book of Cats. 27 



They came, and were cross-questioned as closely 

 as possible, but they declared that they had not 

 been in that part of the house all day long, and 

 that nobody could possibly get into the house with- 

 out their knowledge, unless it was through the 

 garden. The priest had been walking all the time 

 in view of the house, and he felt convinced that the 

 murderer could not have passed in or out on that 

 side without his knowledge. 



" Listen to me ; some person has been into that 

 room since dinner, and your master is cruelly mur- 

 dered." 



" Murdered !" cried the three domestics in tones 

 of terror and amazement ; " did your reverence say 

 'murdered'? " 



" He lies where I left him, but his throat is 

 gashed from ear to ear — he is dead. My poor old 

 friend !" 



" Dead ! the poor master dead, murdered in his 

 own house." 



They wrung their hands, tore their hair, and wept 

 aloud. 



" Silence ! I command you ; and consider that 

 every one of us standing here is liable to the sus- 

 picion of complicity in this foul deed ; so look to it. 

 Giuseppe was asleep." 



