The Nine of Hearts. Farjeon Benjamin Leopold

Attorney-general. "Was he long in selecting the kind of soup he ordered?"

      Witness. "No. It was on the instant."

      The Attorney-general. "He merely glanced at the bill of fare?"

      Witness. "That is so."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you get the soup and place it before him?"

      Witness. "I first asked monsieur, For two?' He said, quickly, 'Yes, for two.' Then I served it."

      The Attorney-general. "In a tureen?"

      Witness. "Yes, in a tureen."

      The Attorney-general. "When you placed the soup before him, did he order any wine?"

      Witness. "I handed monsieur the wine-list, and he said, 'Champagne.' I asked him of what kind. He said, 'The best.'"

      The Attorney-general. "You brought the best?"

      Witness. "Yes."

      The Attorney-general. "That is, the most expensive?"

      Witness. "Of necessity."

      The Attorney-general. "When you placed the wine before him, did you observe anything that struck you as unusual?"

      Witness. "Yes; it was that, like other people, they should have been drinking their soup, or have finished it; but they had not drunk it."

      The Attorney-general. "Had it been served from the tureen into their plates?"

      Witness. "No, not a spoonful. It was as I brought it-not touched."

      The Attorney-general. "As they were not eating, what were they doing?"

      Witness. "They were engaged in conversation."

      The Attorney-general. "Very earnestly?"

      Witness. "Very earnestly."

      The Attorney-general. "And speaking very low?"

      Witness. "Very low."

      The Attorney-general. "Did you hear anything they said?"

      Witness. "Not a word."

      The Attorney-general. "Upon observing that they had not commenced their soup, did you make any remark?"

      Witness. "Yes. I said, 'Does not monsieur like the soup?'"

      The Attorney-general. "What was his answer?"

      Witness. "He answered, 'Oh yes, it is very good,' and slightly pushed the tureen away with his hand."

      The Attorney-general. "Indicating that he had done with it?"

      Witness. "I regarded it so, and I removed it."

      The Attorney-general. "Did he object to its being removed?"

      Witness. "No, not at all."

      The Attorney-general. "Did the lady object-did she seem surprised?"

      Witness. "No; she said not a word, nor did she look surprised."

      The Attorney-general. "Your answer to the last question causes me to ask whether the lady was old or young?"

      Witness. "But I do not know."

      The Attorney-general. "You said she did not look surprised?"

      Witness. "It is that she did not appear surprised. She did not look up. In truth, she had her veil down."

      The Attorney general. "Had she removed her cloak?"

      Witness. "No."

      The Attorney-general. "Did she keep it on all the time she was in the room?"

      Witness. "Yes; all the time."

      The Attorney-general. "Now, when you asked the prisoner if he liked the soup, and he answered, 'Oh yes, it is very good,' you were surprised to find that they had not drunk a spoonful?"

      Witness. "Why, yes, it was surprising."

      The Attorney-general. "Did the prisoner pour out the champagne?"

      Witness. "I filled a glass for madame and one for monsieur."

      The Attorney-general. "Did the prisoner order another dish?"

      Witness. "I asked monsieur, 'What will you have to follow?' and handed him the menu-the bill of fare. He said, 'Salmon cutlets.' 'For two, monsieur?' I asked. 'For two,' he said. I served them."

      The Attorney-general. "Did he at any time summon you by ringing the bell?"

      Witness. "No. It appeared to me that monsieur did not wish to be disturbed therefore I did not disturb him, but I noticed-"

      The Attorney-general. "You noticed what?"

      Witness. "That, as with the soup, monsieur ate nothing, and helped madame to nothing. I waited till I thought it was time, and then I went to the table and asked whether he did not like the salmon cutlets. Monsieur answered, 'Oh yes, they are very good,' and pushed them away as before. I removed them, as with the soup. What will monsieur have to follow?' I asked. 'Ices,' he said. 'Vanille?' I asked. 'Yes,' he said, 'Vanille.' I brought them. They were not eaten."

      The Attorney-general. "Did they drink the wine?"

      Witness. "Monsieur once raised his glass to his lips, but tasted it only, and as if he had no heart in it."

      The Attorney-general. "Did he order anything else?"

      Witness. "No. When I asked him, he said, 'The bill.' I brought it."

      The Attorney-general. "What did it amount to?"

      Witness. "One pound four shillings."

      The Attorney-general. "How much of the champagne was drunk?"

      Witness. "Half a glass-not more."

      The Attorney-general. "Did not the lady drink any of hers?"

      Witness. "Not any."

      The Attorney-general. "Did the prisoner make any remark as to the amount of the bill?"

      Witness. "Oh no; he gave me a sovereign and a half-sovereign, and said, 'That will do.'"

      The Attorney-general. "Meaning that you could keep the change?"

      Witness. "I took it so, and he said nothing."

      The Attorney-general. "A good customer?"

      Witness. "A very good customer. Not many such."

      The Attorney-general. "Without a murmur or a remark, the prisoner paid you thirty shillings for half a glass of champagne?"

      Witness. "That is so. It was, as I say, surprising. I did not forget it."

      The Attorney-general. "It was not a circumstance to forget. You say that the lady who accompanied the prisoner did not remove her cloak or veil. Was that the case the whole of the time she was in the room?"

      Witness. "The whole of the time."

      The Attorney-general. "Her gloves-did she wear those the whole of the time?"

      Witness. "But, no. I remember once seeing her hand ungloved."

      The Attorney-general. "Her right or left hand? Be particular in your answer, and think before you speak, if it is necessary. My object is to ascertain whether the lady was married, and wore a wedding-ring."

      Witness (smiling). "But a wedding-ring matters not. Those wear them who are not married."

      The Attorney-general. "Reply to my question. Was it her right or her left hand which you saw ungloved?"

      Witness. "I cannot remember."

      The Attorney-general. "Try."

      Witness. "It is of no use. I cannot remember."

      The Attorney-general. "Can you remember whether it was a small or a large hand?"

      Witness. "It was a small white hand."

      The Attorney-general. "The hand, presumably, of a lady?"

      Witness. "Or of a member of the theatre. Who can tell? We have many such."

      The Attorney-general. "Were there rings upon her fingers?"

      Witness.