“I must thank you for the clear way in which you have given your evidence. Only one more question. Would it be possible, do you think, for a person to get, say, to the place where the body was discovered and back again in three-quarters of an hour or a little more?”
The crowd in the court seemed to draw a deep breath of unanimous consternation. Only the witness seemed to ignore the drift of the question.
“It would be absolutely impossible, I am sure,” she answered in surprise.
“And you are sure the time was no more than three-quarters of an hour?”
“As sure as I can be, considering that I took no particular note of the time.”
“Thank you. That is all I have to ask you at present, though it is possible we may have to recall you. Gentlemen,” he went on, turning to the jury, who were already springing up with their questions, “I think it will be better for you to hear the evidence of the doctors before you ask this witness any further questions.”
They sat down again, and again there was a buzz and a hum of excitement in the court, and people looked at one another and began to ask one another whether it was true that Nell Claris had been brought from the station, and whether she would be called as a witness. The story was growing more mysterious.
The buzz subsided as the doctor who saw the body before it was moved took the oath and gave his evidence.
He had noticed nothing to give him a clue as to the cause of death in the first cursory examination he was able to make out of doors.
“You afterward, with the assistance of Doctor Clarges, made a thorough examination of the body?”