"No, when I heard the shot I involuntarily closed my eyes. It's a habit with me when anything startles me. When I opened them again I took a step and trod on something hard. I heard no sound at all."
"I see. You did not know the object was a pistol you said?"
"I did not know it. I merely felt something hard under my foot and in a dazed way I picked it up, without actually being conscious of what it was."
"One thing more. Supposing there had been someone behind you, could you have heard that person?"
"No. The carpet is very thick and absolutely deadens any footfall. Besides I do not see how anyone could have been back of me for I heard no one breathing."
"That doesn't follow. A person might have stood far enough away so that you would not notice the breathing, particularly if that person took pains that you shouldn't. And now we come to the breathing that you did hear. Where did it seem to come from?"
"It was right beside me, very, very close."
"Was it normal, hurried breathing, or was it labored?"
"Oh, horrible! A—a gasping sort of breath!"
"What advice did Mr. Cunningham give you at the inquest?" he asked, with a sudden change of subject.