Albert.—“Did you see the witness who was last examined put this vase upon a tray when he left it under your care?”
Witness.—“I did.”
Albert.—“You are certain that he put it upon the tray? What reason have you to remember that circumstance particularly?”
Witness.—“I remember it, because I heard the witness cry out, ‘There, William, I had like to have thrown down this cursed vase; but, look you here, I’ve left it quite safe upon the tray.’ Upon this, I turned and looked, and saw that vase standing upon the tray, safe, with some others.”
Albert.—“Do you recollect any thing else that passed?”
Witness.—“Only that the witness told me I must put it—the vase, I mean—into the furnace directly; and I answered to that, ‘All in good time; the furnace is not ready yet; it will go in along with the rest.’”
Albert.—“Then you did not put it into the furnace immediately after it was left with you?”
Witness.—“No, I did not—but that was not my fault—I could not; the furnace was not hot enough.”
Albert.—“How long do you think it was, from the time it was left upon the tray, till you put it into the furnace?”
Witness.—“I don’t know—I can’t be positive: it might be a quarter of an hour, or twenty minutes; or it might be half an hour. I cannot be positive, sir; I cannot be positive.”