“Under what circumstances?”
“She was dying—of a blow given her by a maniac called Maxley.”
“Maxley!” said the judge to counsel. “I remember the Queen v. Maxley. I tried him myself at the assizes: it was for striking a young lady with a bludgeon, of which she died. Maxley was powerfully defended; and it was proved that his wife had died, and he had been driven mad for a time, by her father's bank breaking. The jury would bring in a verdict that was no verdict at all; as I took the liberty to tell them at the time. The judges dismissed it, and Maxley was eventually discharged.”
Colt.—No doubt that was the case, my lord. To the witness.—Did Jane Hardie know she was dying?
“Oh yes, sir. She told us all so.”
“To whom did she give this letter?”
“To my sister.”
“Oh, to your sister? To Miss Julia Dodd?”
“Yes, sir. But not for herself. It was to give to Alfred Hardie.”
“Can you read the letter? It is rather faintly written. It is written in pencil, my lord.”