The Nine of Hearts. B. L. Farjeon
The Attorney-general. "Was there anything observable in their manner of conversing? Were they calm? Did they remain perfectly still?"
Witness. "No, sir. My master was calm enough, but his companion appeared to be very excited. My master seemed to be trying to persuade him to do something."
The Attorney-general. "From their attitude, should you have assumed that his arguments prevailed?"
Witness. "I can't possibly say, sir."
The Attorney-general. "Well, then, the man went away and the prisoner returned to you. What were his next directions?"
Witness. "To drive to Bloomsbury Square, and stop where he directed me."
The Attorney-general. "You did so?"
Witness. "Yes, sir. When we reached the square in Queen Street he pulled the check-string, and I stopped there. He got out of the carriage and looked about him."
The Attorney-general. "As if in search of some person?"
Witness. "Yes, sir."
The Attorney-general. "Did he make any remark to you?"
Witness. "He said, 'If you see a young lady in a gray cloak pass by, you can tell her I am in the square.'"
The Attorney-general. "Did he remain with you after that?"
Witness. "No, sir; he walked right round the square. When he came up to me he asked if I had seen a young lady dressed as he had described. I. told him no, I hadn't, and he bade me keep a sharp lookout, and left me again."
The Attorney-general. "To walk round the square again?"
Witness. "Yes, sir. He walked round three or four times, I should say, and every time he came up to me he asked me if I was sure I had not seen the young lady; if I was sure she had not passed me. I gave him the same answer as I did before, and he left me again. He could not have been more than half-way round when I saw a lady in a gray cloak coming my way. She was walking hurriedly, and looking about her. I advanced to speak to her, but she started back the moment I made a step towards her, and ran to the other side of the road, and crossed into the square at a distance from me. I should have gone up to her had I not been afraid to leave my horses; but seeing that she began to walk round the square in the opposite direction my master had taken, I was satisfied that they must meet."
The Attorney-general. "In point of fact, did they meet? Relate what you saw that bears upon it."
Witness. "A little while afterwards I saw them together, talking to each other. They did not walk on the pavement close to 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.