“But the parrot hasn’t been sworn as a witness,” Mason observed.
The district attorney appealed to the coroner. “The parrot has made a statement. It was a plainly audible statement.”
“I would like to know,” Mason said, “whether the district attorney is making the parrot his witness.”
“I’m not talking about witnesses,” Sprague countered. “I’m talking about parrots. This parrot made a statement. I want it in the record.”
“If the parrot is to be a witness,” Mason said, “I should have some right of cross-examination.”
“Well,” the coroner ruled, “a parrot can’t be a witness, but the parrot did say something. What those words were can be put in the record for what they’re worth. I think the coroner’s jury understands the situation thoroughly. I never did believe in putting things in a record and then striking them out. When jurors hear things, they’ve heard them, and that’s that. Now, go on with the inquest.”
“I think that’s all the questions I have,” Mason said.
“That’s all,” Sprague said, “except... wait a minute... Miss Monteith, if this parrot is Casanova, then where did the parrot come from that was killed?”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“It was in your house.”