“Yes, there had been a delay owing to a slight accident on the line,” she reluctantly explained.
“Is Mr. Atkins often away?”
“Yes; he’s out of town every week or so, on business.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Atkins, that is all,” the Coroner concluded, politely. But the lady was not so easily appeased, and flounced out of the room without deigning to glance at any of us.
The detective slipped out after her—to call the maids, as he explained, but it was five or six minutes before he returned with the waitress.
After answering several unimportant questions, the girl was asked whether she had ever seen the deceased before. “No, sir,” she replied, promptly.
“Did anyone call on your mistress on Tuesday evening?”
“I can’t say, sir; I was out.”
“At what time did you go out?”
“At about a quarter to eight, sir.”