A Whim, and Its Consequences: Collection of British Authors Vol. CXIVJames, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
A Whim, and Its Consequences: Collection of British Authors Vol. CXIV
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
Fiction
Lloyd Jones said--"I am valet to Mr. Tracy, of Northferry House. I
remember the fifth of February last. On that day, about five o'clock,
I was passing through the entrance hall, towards my master's
dressing-room, when I saw a gentleman at the door, speaking to the
last witness. I heard him ask for Acton, the gardener, and the last
witness say that Mr. Acton was absent. Having heard one of the men say
he had seen Acton a few minutes before, going to his cottage, I
stepped forward and told the gentleman he had returned, and would most
likely be found in the grounds, if he would go through the glass doors
on the other side of the hall, and seek him. He said he would; and I
opened the glass doors for him. He cut across the corner of the lawn,
and went down the gravel walk. He walked rather fast, and seemed eager
to see Mr. Acton. I did not go down to the tool-house with Mr. Tracy
when the body was discovered. I happened to be out at the time; but I
saw the corpse next morning. It was that of the gentleman I had seen
speaking to James Wilson. I never saw the person before. The prisoner
at the bar is the person we have always called Acton. It was about
five o'clock when the gentleman came, I know; because the first bell
had not rung, and it always rang at five. There are two bells rung
every evening at Northferry; one at five and one at half-past. My
master dines at six in the country, and at half-past seven in London.
The second is called the dressing-bell. I am quite sure it was not the
second bell, which had not rung. It was the first; for I always go to
put out Mr. Tracy's things when the first bell rings."
Cross-examined by Mr. B----. --"You say that you always go to put out
Mr. Tracy's things when the first bell rings. How came you to do so on
that night before it had rung?"
Witness.--"Because it was later than usual. I suppose Wilson had
forgot it."
Counsel.--"Then you were in a great hurry, I suppose, to get your work
over, and to go and play the gentleman in the housekeeper's room."
Witness.--"No, Sir, I was not; but I know my duty, if other people do
not; and when I found by my watch that it was some time past five, and
the bell had not been rung, I said to Mrs. Hilston, 'If they do not
choose to ring the bell, it is no affair of mine. I will go and get
master's things ready.'"
Counsel.--"You seem to be a very punctual gentleman, indeed."
Witness.--"I hope I am, Sir."
"And pray how far did your punctuality extend on this occasion," said
the prisoner's counsel, in a sneering tone; "that you should risk
getting a fellow-servant into a scrape, by taking notice that the bell
had not rung at the right hour? It was not above two or three minutes
too late, I dare say."
Witness.--"I beg your pardon, Sir; it was near a quarter-of-an-hour."
Counsel.--"Are you quite sure?"
"Yes, I am quite sure," answered the witness; "for I looked at my
watch."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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