Both his hearers uttered cries of astonishment and horror.
“But it’s not possible! They must have made a mistake,” urged Miss Bostal. “Why, Nell and I were talking to him a little before seven o’clock! And he was then quite well, perfectly recovered.”
The colonel looked from one to the other in surprise.
“You were talking to him! Where?”
“At Mrs. Mann’s cottage, where he lodges. He came to the door and spoke to us himself. He was very disagreeable and rude to us, poor fellow,” said Miss Theodora, who seemed unable to grasp the fact that the man who had been so very full of life and its passions three hours before should now be lying dead.
“Ah, well, then you will both have to make your appearances as witnesses, that’s certain. For there will be an inquest held to-morrow.”
“As witnesses? How dreadful! Besides, what can we prove? He was quite well then.”
“That’s what you will have to prove. And I hope you may succeed,” said the colonel, dubiously. “For if you don’t, the young fellow that knocked him down and stunned him—” Nell looked up, pallid with fear—“this King, will certainly be had up for manslaughter.”
Nell started up with a heartbroken cry.
“Oh, no, oh, no! How can that be possible? He had quite recovered when we saw him; Miss Theodora tells you so; Mr. and Mrs. Mann can prove it, too. He spoke just as you do. He looked just the same as ever. He must have got tipsy afterward; everybody knows he was always getting tipsy. And he must have quarreled with some man and been thrown down, or else he must have fallen into the ditch and been suffocated, or—or—”