“Very well. You may proceed with the examination, Mr. Lambert.”
“Mr. Phipps, where were you on the night of the nineteenth of June?”
“On the night of the nineteenth of June,” said Mr. Phipps, in the clear, carrying voice of one not unaccustomed to public speaking, “I spent about three hours on the Thorne estate at Orchards. Some things occurred during that time that I feel it my duty to make known to the jury in this case.”
“What were you doing on the Thorne place?”
“I suppose that I was doing what is technically known as trespassing. It did not occur to me at the time that it was a very serious offense, as I knew the place to be uninhabited—still, I suppose that I was perfectly aware that I had no business there.”
“You had no especial purpose in going there?”
“Oh, yes; I went there because I had selected it as a pleasant place for a picnic supper.”
“You were alone?”
“No—no, I was not alone.” Mr. Phipps suddenly looked forty-five and very tired.
“Other people were accompanying you on this—this excursion?”