eight
o'clock
Upon this motion of Mr. Guthrie there followed some discussion among the lawyers . Finally it was decided to put the duke 's valet , the hotel waiter , and other witnesses , on the stand , who would be able to corroborate or rebut the evidence given by the lad Ferguson , and thereby break down or establish the testimony offered by Rose Cameron . James Kerr was , therefore , called to the witness-stand , sworn and examined . He said that he had been in the service of the duke 's family ever since he was nine years of age , first as page to the late duchess , but for the last three years as valet to the present duke ; that he was with his master at the `` Arondelle Arms '' on the night of the murder ; that the duke , who was then the Marquis of Arondelle , left the inn at half-past eight o'clock , to walk over the bridge to Castle Lone ; that he returned at half-past nine , accompanied to his room by the boy Ferguson , who brought a handsome Russia leather travelling-case ; that the marquis sat down to his writing-table , wrote a note and gave it to the boy , who immediately left the house . `` At what hour was this ? '' inquired Mr. Guthrie . `` It was a few minutes before ten .