Coroner. The room was kept locked, I understand. The members of the household were not allowed to go in. Beatrix. It was kept locked from every one for ten years. Coroner. Have you never been in the room during that time? Beatrix. Once only. The day I found the key in the door. I went in and looked at my mother’s room. Coroner. Have you any reason to suppose that your father was in the habit of taking opium? Beatrix. I have no reason to suppose so. We lived very much apart, but from what I saw of his mode of life, I do not think my father ever took opium. Coroner. You have never heard him complain of pain of any kind--rheumatism or neuralgia, for instance--which might have induced him to seek relief from opiates? Beatrix. Never. Coroner. Do you know whether there was any laudanum in the house at the time of your father’s death? Beatrix (with evident agitation, and after a noticeable pause). No, there was no laudanum in the house at the time of my father’s death. Coroner. Are you sure of that? Beatrix. Quite sure. I have suffered from sleeplessness for many weeks. Last week I bought a little laudanum, and have been taking it nightly in small doses. I took rather a larger dose than usual last night and emptied the bottle. The jury, who had been getting a little absent-minded during what they considered a somewhat wire-drawn interrogation, became suddenly on the alert. Four and twenty eyes were fixed inquisitively upon the pale face of the witness. A gentleman who stood in the shadow of the doorway watching the proceedings grew a shade paler than he had been before. Coroner. Did any one know of your taking this laudanum? Beatrix. No one. Coroner. Was it recommended by your medical adviser? Beatrix. No. I asked Mr. Namby to give me opiates, but he refused. Coroner. And, unknown to every one, you bought laudanum, and took it in nightly doses? Beatrix. Yes. The sleepless nights were so miserable. I think I should have gone mad if they had continued much longer. Coroner. Was there any cause for these sleepless nights? Beatrix (faltering, and with a distressed look). I had been unhappy lately. Coroner. There was a love affair, was there not, which your father disapproved? Beatrix. Yes. Coroner. Was there ill-feeling between you and your father about this love affair? Beatrix. Not exactly ill-feeling. I thought that my father acted unkindly. Coroner. There was no quarrel between you? Beatrix. No. I submitted to my father’s will, but he knew that when I came of age I should fulfil the engagement of which he disapproved. Coroner. In other words, you defied him? Beatrix. No. I only told him that I should be faithful to the man I loved. Coroner. No matter how objectionable that person might be to your father? Beatrix. He had no cause to object. He ought to have been proud that I had won the love of so good a man.