The Old Man in the Corner eBook

Baroness Emma Orczy
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 258 pages of information about The Old Man in the Corner.

The Old Man in the Corner eBook

Baroness Emma Orczy
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 258 pages of information about The Old Man in the Corner.

“’However, she did not want me to sit with her, so I thought that the best thing I could do was to tell Mr. David Graham that her ladyship did not seem very cheerful.  Her ladyship was so fond of Mr. David; it always made her happy to have him with her.  I then went to my room, and at half-past eight Mr. David called me.  He said:  “Your mistress does seem a little restless to-night.  If I were you I would just go and listen at her door in about an hour’s time, and if she has not gone to bed I would go in and stay with her until she has.”  At about ten o’clock I did as Mr. David suggested, and listened at her ladyship’s door.  However, all was quiet in the room, and, thinking her ladyship had gone to sleep, I went back to bed.

“’The next morning at eight o’clock, when I took in my mistress’s cup of tea, I saw her lying on the floor, her poor dear face all purple and distorted.  I screamed, and the other servants came rushing along.  Then Mr. Graham had the door locked and sent for the doctor and the police.’

“The poor woman seemed to find it very difficult not to break down.  She was closely questioned by Sir James Fenwick, but had nothing further to say.  She had last seen her mistress alive at eight o’clock on the evening of the 24th.

“‘And when you listened at her door at ten o’clock,’ asked Sir James, ‘did you try to open it?’

“‘I did, but it was locked,’ she replied.

“‘Did Lady Donaldson usually lock her bedroom at night?’

“‘Nearly always.’

“‘And in the morning when you took in the tea?’

“‘The door was open.  I walked straight in.’

“‘You are quite sure?’ insisted Sir James.

“‘I swear it,’ solemnly asserted the woman.

“After that we were informed by several members of Mr. Graham’s establishment that Miss Crawford had been in to tea at Charlotte Square in the afternoon of the 24th, that she told every one she was going to London by the night mail, as she had some special shopping she wished to do there.  It appears that Mr. Graham and David both tried to persuade her to stay to dinner, and then to go by the 9.10 p.m. from the Caledonian Station.  Miss Crawford however had refused, saying she always preferred to go from the Waverley Station.  It was nearer to her own rooms, and she still had a good deal of writing to do.

“In spite of this, two witnesses saw the accused in Charlotte Square later on in the evening.  She was carrying a bag which seemed heavy, and was walking towards the Caledonian Railway Station.

“But the most thrilling moment in that sensational trial was reached on the second day, when David Graham, looking wretchedly ill, unkempt, and haggard, stepped into the witness-box.  A murmur of sympathy went round the audience at sight of him, who was the second, perhaps, most deeply stricken victim of the Charlotte Square tragedy.

“David Graham, in answer to Crown Counsel, gave an account of his last interview with Lady Donaldson.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Old Man in the Corner from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.