Up leaps Sir Harold Anstey, and there follows between the two great barristers a sharp interchange of words. But at last the judge decides in favour of the prosecution, and Miss Prince is instructed that she must state what it was that she remembers.
And then for the first time the witness becomes obviously very nervous. In a low voice she very hesitatingly admits:
“I remember that the door to my medicine cupboard happened that day to be wide open, and that Mr. Garlett and I had a talk about poisons. But I do not remember that we mentioned arsenic.”
Again there comes that curious stir through the Court.
“That will do, Miss Prince.”
And indeed every one feels that Miss Prince has indeed “done” for Harry Garlett.
And then Sir Harold Anstey takes the place left vacant by the Crown counsel.
“You told Sir Almeric, Miss Prince,” he begins, “that though you could cast your mind back to late April, it would be impossible for you to remember what happened on any special day at so great a distance of time. Yet during the last few minutes you have shown yourself possessed of a remarkable memory.”
“You must remember,” replies Miss Prince quickly, “that when I learned what had been the cause of my friend Mrs. Garlett’s death, I realized at once that the only place in Terriford where arsenic could have been procured was in my house.”
“You did not, however, see fit to reveal that very important fact till quite lately. Even then, you did not reveal it to the proper authorities. You told it to Dr. Maclean, thus putting him in a very painful position——”