The Professor was buried in his work
and existed for nothing else. Young Smith knew nobody in the
neighbourhood, and lived very much as his employer did. The two
women had nothing to take them from the house. Mortimer the
gardener, who wheels the bath-chair, is an Army pensioner -- an
old Crimean man of excellent character. He does not live in the
house, but in a three-roomed cottage at the other end of the
garden. Those are the only people that you would find within
the grounds of Yoxley Old Place. At the same time, the gate
of the garden is a hundred yards from the main London to Chatham
road. It opens with a latch, and there is nothing to prevent
anyone from walking in.
"Now I will give you the evidence of Susan Tarlton, who is the
only person who can say anything positive about the matter.
It was in the forenoon, between eleven and twelve.
She was engaged at the moment in hanging some curtains in
the upstairs front bedroom. Professor Coram was still in bed,
for when the weather is bad he seldom rises before midday.
The housekeeper was busied with some work in the back of the house.
Willoughby Smith had been in his bedroom, which he uses as a
sitting-room; but the maid heard him at that moment pass along
the passage and descend to the study immediately below her.
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