The examination in chief here closed, and the counsel for the defence rose to cross-examine the witness.
"You have told us," he said, "that when Mr. Roberts called at Northferry House, in the evening, you remarked his face well. Had you any light in the hall?"
Witness.--"No Sir; but there was light enough to see, and the gentleman was quite close to me. The evening light comes through the glass doors; and what there was of it fell right upon him, so that I could see him quite well."
"That might very well be," said the barrister, "at a quarter after five, or even later: is it not so?"
"Oh dear yes, Sir," replied the witness; "and I recollect now, it could not be more than ten minutes after five; for Mr. Taylor said to me just the minute before, 'James, it is past five, and you have not rung the first bell;' and I looked at the clock over the kitchen door, and saw it was six or seven minutes after. I was running up to ring the bell when the gentleman came, and asked for Mr. Acton."
"Then was it ten minutes past five when Mr. Roberts called?"
"About it," answered the witness.
The Judge.--"How long would it take to walk down from the house to the place where the body was found?"
Witness.--"About ten minutes by the walks, my lord."
Judge.--"What do you mean when you say 'by the walks?'"