"Looking round this room now, should you say that he was present?"
The man looked across the room straight at Luke and said pointing to him:
"Yes, sir; the gentleman sitting there, sir."
As every one had expected the reply, no one seemed astonished. The many pairs of eyes that turned on Luke now expressed a certain measure of horrified compassion, such as might be bestowed on some dangerous animal brought to earth by a well-aimed gun shot.
The coroner made no comment. He turned to the jury, glancing along either row of solemn faces, on both sides of the long table. Then he said:
"Would any of you gentlemen like to ask this witness a question?"
Receiving no reply, he added:
"Next witness, please!"