"I hadn't took particular notice of the time. It was dusk. I was turning down my beds; and I generally do that a little before nine. The next room I went into was Mr. Anthony's."
"The deceased was in it, was he not?"
"He was in it, stretched full length upon the sofa. He had his head down on the cushion, and his feet up over the arm at the foot, all comfortable and easy, with a cigar in his mouth, and some glasses and things on the table near him. 'What are you come bothering in here for?' he asked. So I begged his pardon; for you see, gentlemen, I didn't know he was there, and I went out again, and met Joseph carrying up a note to him. A little while after that, he went out."
The witness's propensity to degenerate into gossip appeared irrepressible. Several times she was stopped; once by the judge.
"Of how many servants did the household of Mr. Dare consist?" she was asked.
"There were four of us, gentlemen."
"Did you all sit up that night?"
"All but the cook. She went to bed."
"And the family, those who were at home, went to bed?"
"All of them, sir. The governess went early; she was not well; and Miss Rosa and Miss Minny went, and the two young gentlemen went when they came home from playing cricket."