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interior； was closeda circumstance not a
little puzzling； as it afforded the only other
mode of escape from the room； it looked
out； too； upon a kind of courtyard； round
which the old buildings stood； formerly
accessible by a narrow doorway and passage
lying in the oldest side of the quadrangle；
but which had since been built up；
so as to preclude all ingress or egress； the
room was also upon the second story； and
the height of the window considerable。
Near the bed were found a pair of razors
belonging to the murdered man； one of
them upon the ground； and both of them
open。 The weapon which had inflicted
the mortal wound was not to be found in
the room； nor were any footsteps or other
traces of the murderer discoverable。
At the suggestion of Sir Arthur
himself； a coroner was instantly summoned to
attend； and an inquest was held； nothing；
however； in any degree conclusive was
elicited； the walls； ceiling； and floor of the
room were carefully examined； in order to
ascertain whether they contained a trap…
door or other concealed mode of entrance
but no such thing appeared。
Such was the minuteness of investigation
employed； that； although the grate
had contained a large fire during the night；
they proceeded to examine even the very
chimney； in order to discover whether
escape by it were possible； but this
attempt； too； was fruitless； for the chimney；
built in the old fashion； rose in a perfectly
perpendicular line from the hearth to a
height of nearly fourteen feet above the
roof； affording in its interior scarcely the
possibility of ascent； the flue being
smoothly plastered； and sloping towards
the top like an inverted funnel； promising；
too； even if the summit were attained；
owing to its great height； but a precarious
descent upon the sharp and steep…ridged
roof； the ashes； too； which lay in the
grate； and the soot； as far as it could be
seen； were undisturbed； a circumstance
almost conclusive of the question。
Sir Arthur was of course examined； his
evidence was given with clearness and
unreserve； which seemed calculated to silence
all suspicion。 He stated that； up to the
day and night immediately preceding the
catastrophe； he had lost to a heavy
amount； but that； at their last sitting； he
had not only won back his original loss；
but upwards of four thousand pounds in
addition； in evidence of which he produced
an acknowledgment of debt to that
amount in the handwriting of the deceased；
and bearing the date of the fatal night。
He had mentioned the circumstance to his
lady； and in presence of some of the
domestics； which statement was
supported by THEIR respective evidence。
One of the jury shrewdly observed； that
the circumstance of Mr。 Tisdall's having
sustained so heavy a loss might have
suggested to some ill…minded persons
accidentally hearing it； the plan of robbing
him； after having murdered him in such a
manner as might make it appear that he
had committed suicide； a supposition
which was strongly supported by the
razors having been found thus displaced；
and removed from their case。 Two persons
had probably been engaged in the
attempt； one watching by the sleeping
man； and ready to strike him in case of
his awakening suddenly； while the other
was procuring the razors and employed in
inflicting the fatal gash； so as to make it
appear to have been the act of the
murdered man himself。 It was said that
while the juror was making this suggestion
Sir Arthur changed colour。
Nothing； however； like legal evidence
appeared against him； and the consequence
was that the verdict was found against a
person or persons unknown； and for some
time the matter was suffered to rest； until；
after about five months； my father
received a letter from a person signing
himself Andrew Collis； and representing
himself to be the cousin of the deceased。 This
letter stated that Sir Arthur was likely to
incur not merely suspicion； but personal
risk； unless he could account for certain
circumstances connected with the recent
murder； and contained a copy of a letter
written by the deceased； and bearing date；
the day of the week； and of the month；
upon the night of which the deed of blood
had been perpetrated。 Tisdall's note ran
as follows：
'DEAR COLLIS；
'I have had sharp work with Sir
Arthur； he tried some of his stale tricks；
but soon found that _I_ was Yorkshire too：
it would not doyou understand me。 We
went to the work like good ones； head；
heart and soul； and； in fact； since I came
here； I have lost no time。 I am rather
fagged； but I am sure to be well paid for
my hardship； I never want sleep so long
as I can have the music of a dice…box； and
wherewithal to pay the piper。 As I told
you； he tried some of his queer turns； but
I foiled him like a man； and； in return；
gave him more than he could relish of the
genuine DEAD KNOWLEDGE。
'In short； I have plucked the old
baronet as never baronet was plucked before；
I have scarce left him the stump of
a quill； I have got promissory notes in his
hand to the amount ofif you like round
numbers； say； thirty thousand pounds；
safely deposited in my portable strong…
box； alias double…clasped pocket…book。 I
leave this ruinous old rat…hole early on to…
morrow； for two reasonsfirst； I do not
want to play with Sir Arthur deeper than
I think his security； that is； his money； or
his money's worth； would warrant； and；
secondly； because I am safer a hundred
miles from Sir Arthur than in the house
with him。 Look you； my worthy； I tell
you this between ourselvesI may be
wrong； but； by G； I am as sure as that I
am now living； that Sir A attempted
to poison me last night； so much for old
friendship on both sides。
'When I won the last stake； a heavy one
enough； my friend leant his forehead upon
his hands； and you'll laugh when I tell
you that his head literally smoked like a
hot dumpling。 I do not know whether his
agitation was produced by the plan which
he had against me； or by his having lost so
heavilythough it must be allowed that he
had reason to be a little funked； whichever
way his thoughts went； but he pulled the
bell； and ordered two bottles of
champagne。 While the fellow was bringing
them he drew out a promissory note to the
full amount； which he signed； and； as the
man came in with the bottles and glasses；
he desired him to be off； he filled out a
glass for me； and； while he thought my
eyes were off； for I was putting up his note
at the time； he dropped something slyly
into it； no doubt to sweeten it； but I saw
it all； and； when he handed it to me； I
said； with an emphasis which he might or
might not understand：
' 〃There is some sediment in this； I'll
not drink it。〃
' 〃Is there？〃 said he； and at the same
time snatched it from my hand and threw
it into the fire。 What do you th