Witness: Before I was about, while I was still in my dressing room, I was aware of a great noise at my gate, and there I saw John Jasper, insufficiently attired, crying very loudly to me in the house. I looked out, and asked what was the matter, and he said, “Where is my nephew?” Naturally, I said to him, “Why should you ask me?” and he said, “Last evening, very late, he went down to the river to see the storm, in company with Mr. Neville Landless,” since when nothing had been heard of him. And then he said, “Call Mr. Neville.” I told him Neville had already started.
Mr. Walters: When this conversation took place between you and John Jasper, did it occur to you that he was dazed, as if suffering from the effect of drugs?
Witness: No.
Mr. Walters: Did it strike you that he was particularly clear-headed?
Witness: I think so. Yes: he was very clear-headed.
Mr. Walters: Was he concise and clear in his remarks?
Witness: Yes, perfectly clear.
Mr. Walters: If anybody told you he was suffering from the effect of drugs, or was dazed or bewildered, would your observation bear that out?
Witness: No, indeed.
Mr. Walters: What did you do in respect of Mr. Neville?