The Nine of Hearts. Farjeon Benjamin Leopold

the houses, but on the other side, close to the railings. I don't know how many times they made the circle of the square, but they must have been away about twenty minutes or so. Then they came up to me together, and my master opened the door of the carriage, and the lady got in. When she was inside, he said to me that there was no occasion for me to mention what I had seen or that he had spoken to me about the lady."

      The Attorney-general. "All this time was it raining?"

      Witness. "Yes, sir."

      The Attorney-general. "Did they have umbrellas?"

      Witness. "Neither of them, sir."

      The Attorney-general. "They must have got wet?"

      Witness. "They couldn't help getting wet."

      The Attorney-general. "Did they seem to mind it?"

      Witness. "They didn't say anything about it."

      The Attorney-general. "While they were walking round the square, did they meet any persons?"

      Witness. "A few passed them, and they got out of their way, it seemed to me."

      The Attorney-general. "As if they desired to avoid observation?"

      Witness. "Yes, sir."

      The Attorney-general. "That would be a reasonable construction to put upon the circumstance of their walking, during their conversation, on the least-frequented side of the square, near the railings?"

      Witness. "Yes, I think so."

      The Attorney-general. "Although the neighborhood is a fairly busy one during the day, are there many people passing through Bloomsbury Square at night?"

      Witness. "Not many, I should say."

      The Attorney-general. "The square is not very well lighted up?"

      Witness. "Not very."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you see a policeman while you were waiting?"

      Witness. "One, and only once."

      The Attorney-general. "Did he speak to you?"

      Witness. "No, sir."

      The Attorney-general. "He passed on through the square?"

      Witness. "Yes, sir."

      The Attorney-general. "Reference has been made to an ulster of a peculiar pattern which the prisoner was in the habit of wearing. You said it was an ulster which could not be mistaken. Are you certain of that?"

      Witness. "Quite certain."

      The Attorney-general. "Is it within your recollection how long the prisoner has worn this ulster?"

      Witness. "He had it made last year."

      The Attorney-general. "Would you recognize it if you saw it?"

      Witness. "Oh yes."

      The Attorney-general. "Is this it?" (Ulster produced.)

      Witness. "Yes, that is it."

      The Attorney-general. "You swear to it?"

      Witness. "I do."

      The Attorney-general. "You have said that the prisoner came out of his house wearing this ulster. Now, on the occasions you have described, when the prisoner left his carriage and returned to it, was this ulster ever off his back?"

      Witness. "He wore it all the time."

      The Attorney-general. "You are positive he did not at any time leave you with this ulster on, and return wearing another?"

      Witness. "I am positive of it."

      The Attorney-general. "After the lady got into the carriage, and the prisoner told you there was no occasion for you to mention what you had seen, or that he had spoken to you about the lady, what did he do?"

      Witness. "He told me to drive to Prevost's Restaurant, in Church Street, Soho, and then he got into the carriage."

      The Attorney-general. "At any time during the night did you see the lady's face?"

      Witness. "Not at any time."

      The Attorney-general. "Were you familiar with Prevost's Restaurant?"

      Witness. "No, I had never been there, and I was in doubt where Church Street was. I had to inquire my way."

      The Attorney-general. "Could not the prisoner tell you?"

      Witness. "I asked him, and he said he could not direct me."

      The Attorney-general. "However, you found the restaurant?"

      Witness. "Yes."

      The Attorney-general. "And then?"

      Witness. "My master and the lady entered the restaurant."

      The Attorney-general. "What did your master say to you?"

      Witness. "He told me to wait near the door."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you know what time it was when you drew up at the restaurant?"

      Witness. "It was ten minutes to eleven."

      The Attorney-general. "How long were you kept waiting?"

      Witness. "Exactly an hour and five minutes."

      The Attorney-general. "That will bring it to five minutes to twelve?"

      Witness. "Yes, sir."

      The Attorney-general. "Did the prisoner then come from the restaurant?"

      Witness. "Yes, accompanied by the lady."

      The Attorney-general. "It was still raining?"

      Witness. "Raining hard now."

      The Attorney-general. "Did he appear flurried? Was he excited?"

      Witness. "His movements were very hurried, which I thought was due to the rain, and perhaps to his having had a little too much wine. He opened the door of the carriage quickly, and the lady jumped in, to avoid the rain, I suppose. My master got in quickly after her."

      The Attorney-general. "But he gave you instructions?"

      Witness. "All he said was, 'Home!'"

      The Attorney-general. "Calmly?"

      Witness. "No, sir. Although he only said one word, I noticed that his voice was thick. It was because of that I suspected he had taken a little too much wine."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you observe that he had his ulster on?"

      Witness. "Yes, he had it on."

      The Attorney-general. "You drove home-and then?"

      Witness. "My master got out, helped the lady out-no, I am making a mistake."

      The Attorney-general. "Commence again."

      Witness. "My master got out, opened the street door with his latch-key, then returned to the carriage and helped the lady out, and they both passed into the house."

      The Attorney-general. "Were his actions steady?"

      Witness. "They were not, sir. He seemed to be in a strange hurry."

      The Attorney-general. "Did he say nothing to you?"

      Witness. "Nothing. And thinking my day's work was over, I took the horses to the stable. I was glad enough."

      The Attorney-general. "The prisoner was in the habit of carrying a latch-key?"

      Witness. "Yes, and always let himself into the house."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you observe whether the gas in the hall was lighted?"

      Witness. "It was. It was always kept on when my master was out. His habit was to turn it off himself, the servants sometimes being abed."

      The Attorney-general. "Now, during the time you were in the prisoner's employment, had you ever passed such a day as this you have described?"

      Witness. "Never."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you ever know him to come home with a lady, alone, at that hour of the night?"

      Witness. "Never."

      The