"A person of no repute," sniffed Anne, coldly.
"Leave her alone," said Lydia passionately. "She's dead, poor soul, and even if she was not married, she was better than Lady Balscombe, carrying on with Lord Calliston."
"Oh, indeed, miss," said Ann, rising indignantly. "This is a plot, is it, to mix up Lady Balscombe with your mistress? I won't have anything to do with it."
Dowker caught her wrist as she arose, and forced her back into her chair.
"You'll answer what I want to know," he said sternly, "or it will be the worse for yourself."
Upon this Miss Lifford began to weep, and demanded if she was a slave or a British female, to be thus badgered and assaulted by a policeman. At last, after some difficulty, Dowker succeeded in making her understand that what he wanted to know was not detrimental to her mistress, upon which she said she would tell him what he required. So Dowker produced his note-book and prepared to take down Miss Lifford's evidence.
"First," asked Dowker, "do you remember the night when Lady Balscombe eloped?"
"Not being a born fool, I do," retorted Miss Lifford sharply. "Such goings on I never saw."
"Can you tell me all that took place on that night?"
Miss Lifford sniffed thoughtfully.