The Leavenworth Case | Page 9

swept through the room,
and in that one remark, James Harwell lost all that he had previously
won by the self-possession of his bearing and the unflinching regard of
his eye. He seemed himself to realize this, for he lifted his head still
higher, though his general aspect remained unchanged.
"I mean," the coroner exclaimed, evidently nettled that the young man
had been able to draw such a conclusion from his words, "that you were
the last one to see him previous to his assassination by some unknown

individual?"
The secretary folded his arms, whether to hide a certain tremble which
had seized him, or by that simple action to gain time for a moment's
further thought, I could not then determine. "Sir," he replied at length,
"I cannot answer yes or no to that question. In all probability I was the
last to see him in good health and spirits, but in a house as large as this
I cannot be sure of even so simple a fact as that." Then, observing the
unsatisfied look on the faces around, added slowly, "It is my business
to see him late."
"Your business? Oh, as his secretary, I suppose?"
He gravely nodded.
"Mr. Harwell," the coroner went on, "the office of private secretary in
this country is not a common one. Will you explain to us what your
duties were in that capacity; in short, what use Mr. Leavenworth had
for such an assistant and how he employed you?"
"Certainly. Mr. Leavenworth was, as you perhaps know, a man of great
wealth. Connected with various societies, clubs, institutions, etc.,
besides being known far and near as a giving man, he was accustomed
every day of his life to receive numerous letters, begging and otherwise,
which it was my business to open and answer, his private
correspondence always bearing a mark upon it which distinguished it
from the rest. But this was not all I was expected to do. Having in his
early life been engaged in the tea-trade, he had made more than one
voyage to China, and was consequently much interested in the question
of international communication between that country and our own.
Thinking that in his various visits there, he had learned much which, if
known to the American people, would conduce to our better
understanding of the nation, its peculiarities, and the best manner of
dealing with it, he has been engaged for some time in writing a book on
the subject, which same it has been my business for the last eight
months to assist him in preparing, by writing at his dictation three
hours out of the twenty-four, the last hour being commonly taken from
the evening, say from half-past nine to half-past ten, Mr. Leavenworth

being a very methodical man and accustomed to regulate his own life
and that of those about him with almost mathematical precision."
" You say you were accustomed to write at his dictation evenings? Did
you do this as usual last evening?"
"I did, sir."
"What can you tell us of his manner and appearance at the time? Were
they in any way unusual?"
A frown crossed the secretary's brow.
"As he probably had no premonition of his doom, why should there
have been any change in his manner?"
This giving the coroner an opportunity to revenge himself for his
discomfiture of a moment before, he said somewhat severely:
"It is the business of a witness to answer questions, not to put them."
The secretary flushed and the account stood even.
"Very well, then, sir; if Mr. Leavenworth felt any forebodings of his
end, he did not reveal them to me. On the contrary, he seemed to be
more absorbed in his work than usual. One of the last words he said to
me was, 'In a month we will have this book in press, eh, Trueman?' I
remember this particularly, as he was filling his wine-glass at the time.
He always drank one glass of wine before retiring, it being my duty to
bring the decanter of sherry from the closet the last thing before leaving
him. I was standing with my hand on the knob of the hall-door, but
advanced as he said this and replied, 'I hope so, indeed, Mr.
Leavenworth.' 'Then join me in drinking a glass of sherry,' said he,
motioning me to procure another glass from the closet. I did so, and he
poured me out the wine with his own hand. I am not especially fond of
sherry, but the occasion was a pleasant one and I drained my glass. I
remember being slightly ashamed of doing so, for Mr. Leavenworth set
his down half full. It was half full when we found him this morning."

Do what he would, and being a reserved man he