“No, sir,” answers this person with cool effrontery. “I gave notice myself.” “You will swear, Weston, that Mrs. de Lara did not dismiss you for drunkenness and gross impertinence?” “Certainly, sir. Mrs. de Lara told me I had had too much to drink, and I told her I would leave. I gave a month’s notice.” “Thank you, Weston, I have no more to ask you.” Hector D’Estrange’s voice has a peculiar ring of unutterable contempt in it. The wretch winces as he receives the order to “stand down.” Victoire Hester is next called. She deposes to being Mrs. de Lara’s late maid. She corroborates Charles Weston’s evidence. Asked if she remembers the writing paper used by Mrs. de Lara and Hector D’Estrange, “Perfectly,” is her reply. “Can she select a specimen from amidst the packet of letters handed her?” “Certainly,” she replies again. In a few minutes she has picked out three letters all written in the same hand and on a similar stamp of paper. “This,” she declares, “is the paper used by Mrs. de Lara and Mr. D’Estrange all the time that I have been in Mrs. de Lara’s service.” Asked again if she recognises the handwriting on the letter, she unhesitatingly declares it to resemble Lord Westray’s. Asked if she received a note from Mrs. de Lara, acquainting her with her sudden departure for London the night of the murder, she answers, “_Yes!_” Cross-examined by Hector D’Estrange. “Victoire Hester, are you not engaged to Charles Weston, and were you not dismissed by Mrs. de Lara?” “No, sir,” she unblushingly replies. “I gave notice same as Charles did, because Mrs. de Lara behaved so improperly to me.” “Victoire Hester, you say that Mrs. de Lara left a note for you on the night of the supposed murder of Lord Westray, informing you she had gone to London?” “Yes,” is the reply. “But was she not in the habit of frequently going up to town in the same way without leaving notes?” “Yes, sir.” “Then how is it she should trouble to do what she had never done before, Victoire Hester?” The maid is visibly flurried. “I don’t know, sir,” she stammers. “Thank you, Victoire.” The cold, calm, contemptuous voice comes again, and the maid in turn steps down. Alfred Hawkins corroborates Charles Weston’s evidence, as to driving Lord Westray to Mrs. de Lara’s South Kensington residence on one occasion. He states that he was groom to the late lord, and is still so to his successor. “I call for Mr. Trackem,” enunciates Sir Anthony Stickleback in an important voice, “since the accused does not wish to ask Alfred Hawkins any questions.” Mr. Trackem enters the witness box. He is extremely well dressed, and has an air of importance about him. Like Sir Anthony, he has evidently a good opinion of himself. “Mr. Trackem, you own a certain house in Verdegrease Crescent, do you not?” inquires Sir Anthony blandly. “I do, sir,” answers Mr. Trackem. “Have you or have you not admitted Mrs. de Lara to the house?” “Frequently, sir,” answers that individual.