"Yet it must have been a very distressing sound, was it not? Would you say it was a cry of agony or of fear?"

"Both. Yes--I would say it was a cry of both fear and agony."

"Then what did you do? Tell exactly what happened."

"We went out to investigate. My other guests ran out the same time."

"You didn't see them run out?"

"No, but I met most of them outside. At such times one doesn't observe closely. We ran down to the sh.o.r.e of the lagoon, at the place we've indicated to you, and there we found David Florey, lying dead. There was no one near, and no weapons were lying beside him--at least I didn't see any. He was lying on his side, and his vest and shirt were torn and wet with blood. Some of us went at once to telephone--Mr. Killdare, Mr.

Van Hope, Mr. Nopp and myself. The others began to beat through the garden in search of the murderer."

"No one stayed with the body?"

"No."

"You're perfectly certain Mr. Florey was dead, Mr. Nealman."

"I didn't dream of anything else at the time, Mr. Weldon. He lay huddled, his face drawn, and certainly there was a terrible wound in his breast."

"These men that hunted through the gardens and lawns. Were they armed?"

"Mr. Marten had a pistol. The others were unarmed."

"They stayed close together?"

"I don't think they did. I can't say for sure."

"Then what happened?"

"We telephoned, met the searching party, and all of us went back to the body. It was gone."

"No action or word of any of your guests wakened your suspicions?"

"None whatever."

"You suspect no one?"

"No one. I am absolutely in the dark."

"Remember, as the occupant of the house, you are in a better position to give us a right steer than any one else. I want you to think hard. You observed, at no time, any suspicious circ.u.mstances?"

"None whatever." Nealman's voice was firm.

"What weapon, would you say, inflicted the wound?"

"I don't know. It wasn't a pistol, of course. We didn't hear a shot. We didn't examine the wound carefully, but I would say it was some metal instrument, not overly sharp. It might have been a dull knife."

"Would a knife likely have torn the shirt and vest as you describe?"

"It doesn't seem likely, unless the murderer gave a furious, downward stroke."

The coroner paused again, and the room was utterly silent. "You have never heard any story, any legend--any set of facts connected with this house and its occupants that might explain the murder?"

Nealman waited a long time before he answered. "None that are the least credible."

"You've got something on your mind, Nealman. Credible or not, I want to hear it."

"I can't bring myself to repeat such a silly story. All old houses have various legends. This particular legend is not worth hearing."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Nealman, but I must be the judge of that. You have the same as admitted that the story has occurred to your mind. What was it, please?"

Nealman's voice lowered perceptibly, and he answered with evident difficulty. "A silly thing about a buried treasure--and a sea-monster--a giant octopus or something like that--that had been set to guard it--in the lagoon."

As we waited we heard the faint scream of the plover on the sh.o.r.e and the lapping waves of the tide. Most of the white men were smiling grimly--the negroes were gray as ashes.

"You will admit that the tragedy of last night, the nature of the wound and the disappearance of the body, brought the legend forcibly to your memory?"

"I couldn't help but remember it," Nealman answered. "But it's inane and silly--just the same."

CHAPTER XII

Nealman was of course the most important witness. Further testimony was really only in corroboration of his. The coroner called on Marten next.

This man spoke bluntly, answering all questions in a vigorous, rather masterful voice. Financier, he said simply, in answer to the question as to his occupation.

"You were with Mr. Nealman when you heard Florey's scream?"

"Yes."

"Who else was there?"

"Mr. Van Hope and Mr. Killdare."

"Do you know the exact location of any other of the guests at the time of the murder?"

"No, not exactly. They were all in rooms adjoining the living-room."

"You're sure of that?"

"Practically sure. They came in and out every few minutes."

"Did you have any previous acquaintance with the dead man?"

"None whatever."