Witness. "I believe so. My mistress would say, 'Papa is going to bring three or four friends to dinner.' He would look at her and say nothing; and when the dinner was served Mr. Layton would be absent. Mr. Beach would then take the head of the table, and I have heard him, when he was filled with champagne--he scarcely ever drank anything else but champagne and whiskey--speak very angrily about 'the stuck-up pride of his fine gentleman son-in-law.' The other guests were not behindhand in abusing him."
The Attorney-general. "Although they were eating at his table and drinking his wine?"
Witness. "Yes. At other times in the evening, when Mr. Layton was at home with my mistress, Mr. Beach would make his appearance unexpectedly with his friends but Mr. Layton would never remain in their company. It seemed to me that Mr. Beach did these things to vex Mr. Layton, and that it was a kind of battle between them as to who should be master."
The Attorney-general. "A battle, however, in which the prisoner did not take any violent part?"
Witness. "But it ended in his being left the master of the field."
The Attorney-general. "Explain."
Witness. "After twelve months or so Mr. Beach's friends ceased entirely to come to the house. Then, when Mr. Beach came, he came alone."
The Attorney-general. "On those occasions did the prisoner remain at home?"
Witness. "Yes, whenever Mr. Beach was alone Mr. Layton remained in."
The Attorney-general. "How did they pass the time?"