“‘Why, I just put one foot on the railing and then set my other foot on the railing on the other side; then I jumped over, the same as a man does when he gets off a horse.’
“‘Did you see Mrs. Ragland on the first night you discovered Bowles and the woman in the garden?’
“‘No; I waited for her until I got tired, then I went home.’
“‘You may stand aside now,’ said Lottie.
“Then Miss Tadpoddle gathered up her skirts and giving Lottie a scornful look, moved away with long and rapid strides.
“‘Quillet,’ whispered Hogjaw, ‘you have caught a tartar, I think.’
“‘How is that?’
“‘That Miss Wallingford has got a trap set for some of your witnesses, I infer from the shape of her questions. I tell you, she is a trump, as sure as you are born; and she will spring a mine under your case yet that will blow it skyward. I know by her looks and the manner of her questions that she means mischief; somebody is going to get scratched yet before this case is ended.’
“‘She lacks a great deal of being a fool, at any rate, and I should be very glad if she can develop any facts that would benefit her unfortunate friend.’
“‘Why did you not have Bowles arrested as an accomplice?’