"Why, a man may cut across the lawns," said the witness.
Judge.--"Did Mr. Roberts cut across the lawns?"
Witness.--"Only a little bit; and then took the gravel walk on the right, through the shrubbery."
After a short pause, this witness was ordered to go down; and Lloyd Jones was called.
I shall proceed, copying from the report of the trial in "The Times."
Lloyd Jones said--"I am valet to Mr. Tracy, of Northferry House. I remember the fifth of February last. On that day, about five o'clock, I was passing through the entrance hall, towards my master's dressing-room, when I saw a gentleman at the door, speaking to the last witness. I heard him ask for Acton, the gardener, and the last witness say that Mr. Acton was absent. Having heard one of the men say he had seen Acton a few minutes before, going to his cottage, I stepped forward and told the gentleman he had returned, and would most likely be found in the grounds, if he would go through the glass doors on the other side of the hall, and seek him. He said he would; and I opened the glass doors for him. He cut across the corner of the lawn, and went down the gravel walk. He walked rather fast, and seemed eager to see Mr. Acton. I did not go down to the tool-house with Mr. Tracy when the body was discovered. I happened to be out at the time; but I saw the corpse next morning. It was that of the gentleman I had seen speaking to James Wilson. I never saw the person before. The prisoner at the bar is the person we have always called Acton. It was about five o'clock when the gentleman came, I know; because the first bell had not rung, and it always rang at five. There are two bells rung every evening at Northferry; one at five and one at half-past. My master dines at six in the country, and at half-past seven in London. The second is called the dressing-bell. I am quite sure it was not the second bell, which had not rung. It was the first; for I always go to put out Mr. Tracy's things when the first bell rings."
Cross-examined by Mr. B----. --"You say that you always go to put out Mr. Tracy's things when the first bell rings. How came you to do so on that night before it had rung?"
Witness.--"Because it was later than usual. I suppose Wilson had forgot it."
Counsel.--"Then you were in a great hurry, I suppose, to get your work over, and to go and play the gentleman in the housekeeper's room."
Witness.--"No, Sir, I was not; but I know my duty, if other people do not; and when I found by my watch that it was some time past five, and the bell had not been rung, I said to Mrs. Hilston, 'If they do not choose to ring the bell, it is no affair of mine. I will go and get master's things ready.'"