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At that moment the butler appeared from the dining room carrying a tray on which were glasses and a pitcher of ice water.

“Joshua, is this Miss Thornton’s maid?” asked Brett.

“Yessir,” Joshua ducked his head respectfully as he answered the detective. “Annette, Miss Eleanor done hab her same room next do’ ter Miss Cynthia’s. Yo’ kin take her things right upstairs, and tell Miss Eleanor I done got der ice water fo’ her.”

With a half curtsey Annette stepped past the two men, and ran quickly up the staircase.

“Stop a moment, Joshua,” ordered Brett, as the butler started to follow the maid. “Who opened the door into the library a few moments ago?”

“’Deed I dunno, suh; I been so busy takin’ in cyards I ain’t noticed particular.”

“Who has been in the hall besides yourself?” persisted Brett.

“Ain’t no one,” began Joshua, then paused. “Now I do recollect dat Marse Philip cum in right smart time ergo, suh. He axed fo’ yo’, and I tole him yo’ was in de lib’ary. I ’specks he mighter been alookin’ fo’ yo’.”