“It was after half-past nine.”
“How much after?”
“Five minutes.”
“You are positive as to this?”
“Oh, yes, sir—I said to the gentleman as how he’d come back very quick, ’cos they don’t come out o’ church till after half-past eight, and it’s over an hour’s walk at least. I asked him if he’d come by the way of the cliffs, and he didn’t seem to know there was a way by the cliffs as was shorter.”
Mr Windgate frowned slightly, and internally anathematised the witness’ garrulity.
“Anyhow, you are ready to swear it was five-and-twenty minutes to ten when this Mr Durnford came in?”
“Yes, sir—quite certain. We both looked at the clock and remarked it.”
“But one of the servants, a”—consulting his notes—“a Jane Flinders, says it was later.”
The loquacious one shook his head with a smile of pitying superiority.