Judge. Prisoner, I do not quite see your drift; but God forbid you should be hampered in your defence. Witness, by virtue of your oath, reply directly. Did this pedler offer you marriage that night after he left the prisoner?
Ryder. My lord, he did.
Prisoner. And confided to you he had orders to kill Mr. Gaunt?
Ryder. Not he, madam: that was not the way to win me. He knew that.
Prisoner. What! did not his terrible purpose peep out all the time he was making love to you?
No reply.
Prisoner. You had the kitchen to your two selves? Come, don't hesitate.
Ryder. The other servants were gone to bed. You kept the man so late.
Prisoner. O, I mean no reflection on your prudence. You went out of doors with your wooer; just to see him off?
Ryder. Not I. What for? I had nobody to make away with. I just opened the door for him, bolted it after him, and went straight to my bedroom.