“I don’t know; she only came to my place once or twice.  The last time I set eyes on her must have been in October.”

“How did she appear?”

“She was very miserable, but she wouldn’t let you see it.” (Laughter.)

“How has the prisoner behaved since the murder?”

“He always seemed very glum and sorry for it.”

Cross-examined:  “Did not the prisoner once occupy the bedroom of Mr. Constant, and give it up to him, so that Mr. Constant might have the two rooms on the same floor?”

“Yes, but he didn’t pay as much.”

“And, while occupying this front bedroom, did not the prisoner once lose his key and have another made?”

“He did; he was very careless.”

“Do you know what the prisoner and Mr. Constant spoke about on the night of December 3rd?”

“No; I couldn’t hear.”

“Then how did you know they were quarrelling?”

“They were talkin’ so loud.”

Sir CHARLES BROWN-HARLAND, Q.C. (sharply):  “But I’m talking loudly to you now.  Should you say I was quarrelling?”

“It takes two to make a quarrel.” (Laughter.)

“Was prisoner the sort of man who, in your opinion, would commit a murder?”

“No, I never should ha’ guessed it was him.”

“He always struck you as a thorough gentleman?”

“No, my lud.  I knew he was only a comp.”

“You say the prisoner has seemed depressed since the murder.  Might not that have been due to the disappearance of his sweetheart?”

“No, he’d more likely be glad to get rid of her.”

“Then he wouldn’t be jealous if Mr. Constant took her off his hands?” (Sensation.)

“Men are dog-in-the-mangers.”

“Never mind about men, Mrs. Drabdump.  Had the prisoner ceased to care for Miss Dymond?”

“He didn’t seem to think of her, my lud.  When he got a letter in her handwriting among his heap he used to throw it aside till he’d torn open the others.”

BROWN-HARLAND, Q.C. (with a triumphant ring in his voice):  “Thank you, Mrs. Drabdump.  You may sit down.”

SPIGOT, Q.C.:  “One moment, Mrs. Drabdump.  You say the prisoner had ceased to care for Miss Dymond.  Might not this have been in consequence of his suspecting for some time that she had relations with Mr. Constant?”

The JUDGE:  “That is not a fair question.”

SPIGOT, Q.C.:  “That will do, thank you, Mrs. Drabdump.”

BROWN-HARLAND, Q.C.:  “No; one question more, Mrs. Drabdump.  Did you ever see anything—­say, when Miss Dymond came to your house—­to make you suspect anything between Mr. Constant and the prisoner’s sweetheart?”

“She did meet him once when Mr. Mortlake was out.” (Sensation.)

“Where did she meet him?”

“In the passage.  He was going out when she knocked and he opened the door.” (Amusement.)

“You didn’t hear what they said?”