The Purple Fern

by Fergus Hume

Witness: "No! He was swearing in bed when I left him."

Coroner: "Did you lock the door of the bedroom?"

Witness: "No! The door of the bedroom was never locked."

A Juryman: "Did you hear any noise outside, which led you to believe that someone might be lurking about?"

Witness: "No, sir!"

Coroner: "And you knew nothing of this purple fern business?"

Witness: "No! Miss Baird never told me, nor did Dr. Jerce. If I had known I should have stopped in the room, notwithstanding master's bad temper."

Coroner: "Mr. Horran was not alarmed, or apprehensive?"

Witness: "Not in the least. He was in a bad temper, and wished me to leave him, so I did."

Coroner: "Do you know why the deceased was in a bad temper?"