When I was through, the coroner stroked his chin reflectively. I was hoping he would dismiss me without further parley, but instead he began his cross-examination.
"Mr. Davies, did you not think it strange that she should send for you so late at night?" he commenced, after a slight pause.
"Under the circumstances, no," I replied.
"Under what circumstances?"
"In the interview between Mr. and Mrs. Darwin, of which you have heard, Mr. Darwin threatened to ruin me. Mrs. Darwin sent for me because she desired to warn me against her husband."
I saw several of the jurymen nudging each other and even the coroner's brows shot up a trifle, but I decided that it was far better to strengthen the case against her than to have them construing all manner of scandal from my refusal to answer.
"Could she not have written to warn you, just as well?" pursued the coroner.
"She believed that I would take no notice of such a warning unless it were given in person," I replied.
"Would not the next morning have been ample time?" caustically.
"I can't presume to say," I shrugged.