She was asked to describe him, and in reply said—
“He had dark bushy eyebrows and a beaky nose.”
She was then asked if she would know him again.
After some little hesitation she said she thought she should be able to recognise him, but was not certain.
Her evidence was taken down very carefully by the coroner’s clerk, as it was believed to be very important, as far as the after proceedings in the case were concerned.
After the little girl’s evidence there was a pause in the proceedings. The coroner looked at his summoning officer, who looked at the inspector of police who had the case in hand; then there were whisperings and a low murmur from those assembled in the court, out of which the police inspector took his way; then he returned again, and said something in a whisper to the coroner, who said out loud—
“In the interests of justice it is most desirable that she should be heard; but if she is too ill, and has a doctor’s certificate to that effect, we have no other alternative than to adjourn the inquiry.”
“I will do what I can,” answered the police-officer, who again left the court.
In a minute or so he returned, and nodded significantly to the coroner.
All was now so hushed, that, to make use of a common phrase, “you might hear a pin drop.”