Coroner. Have you ever seen any bottle containing opium, or any bottle labelled opium, or laudanum, in his rooms? Peacock. Never. Coroner. Have you ever seen anything in your late master’s manner indicating a disturbed state of mind--the sort of thing which is usually called not being quite right in one’s mind? Peacock. No, sir. My late master was not a cheerful man. He was a gentleman who preferred to live alone. He had always lived shut up in his own rooms since his wife’s death. I believe he took her death very much to heart. He has never talked about his troubles to me, or to any one in the house, but I believe that was his trouble. The next witness was Isabella Scratchell. She had been present at the discovery of Mr. Harefield’s death. She had dined with him on the previous evening, and would naturally be an independent witness, and a more unbiassed judge of his demeanour and mental condition than either his old servants or his daughter. Bella gave her evidence with a graceful timidity and a gentle firmness which charmed her hearers. She felt that it was her first public appearance, and that the eyes of Little Yafford--or possibly of a much wider world than Little Yafford--were upon her. She stood at the end of the long table, with her clear blue eyes fixed respectfully upon the coroner, her little white hands clasped, her head slightly bent. Even her father’s cold eye perceived that there was grace and prettiness in this familiar face and figure. ‘A girl like that ought to get a husband able to support her,’ thought Mr. Scratchell, who regarded marriage as an institution devised for taking daughters off a father’s hands, and throwing the onus of maintaining them upon an obliging stranger. Coroner. You dined with Mr. Harefield yesterday evening, I believe? Bella. Yes. Coroner. What impression did his manner make upon you? Bella. I felt very sorry for Beatrix--for Miss Harefield. Coroner. Why? Bella. It was so sad to see a father and daughter so unloving. Or I should say sad to see a daughter so little loved. Coroner. Then you conclude the want of affection was on Mr. Harefield’s side? Bella (after a moment of hesitation). Yes. Coroner. Do you mean that Mr. Harefield was absolutely harsh in his treatment of his daughter? Bella. Both harsh and cold. I should have felt it painfully had I been Miss Harefield. Indeed, I know she did feel it. Coroner. She has told you so? Bella. Indirectly. She has told me of unhappiness between her and her father. Coroner. What kind of unhappiness? Bella. I had rather not enter into that. I have no right to betray Miss Harefield’s confidence. Coroner. You are bound to answer any questions bearing upon the subject of this inquiry. I want particularly to know the state of feeling between Mr. Harefield and his daughter. Now what was the unhappiness of which you have spoken?