“Beg pardon, sir, you asked for the 16th of Ultimo, and I never heered tell o’ that month. It ain’t in the calendar.” “Come; on the evening of the 16th last, were you at supper with your husband and others?” “Yes.” “And those others were”’ “Rose Ash and Noah Flood. They came in”’ “Never mind that. Answer shortly my questions. Where was Kate Quarm?” “She had her supper, too.” “And when she had done, did she go into the back kitchen to clean up?” “Yes, sir.” “Was anyone with her then?” “Yes, sir; Jane Redmore.” “And when Jane Redmore went home, did your niece accompany her?” “She said she was going with her.” “Did your niece take a lantern?” “Yes, sir.” “And did you see there was a candle in the lantern?” “Yes, sir.” “Sufficient to burn for an hour?” “I don’t know that exactly.” “Well, three-quarters of an hour?” “Perhaps so. I didn’t notice exactly how long the candle was.” “Anyhow, it would have burnt for more than a quarter of an hour?” “Oh yes.” “Or for half an hour?” “I daresay it would.” “You know it would. Now be careful as to your statements, Mrs. Pepperill. You are quite sure it would have burnt for three-quarters of an hour, if not an hour?” “Perhaps’I cannot say.” “You can say it would have lasted three-quarters, but are not sure it would last an hour?” “I suppose so.” “It is not the way of candles, like legs of pork, to run away of themselves, is it?” “I don’t understand you, sir!” “I mean, that if you put a candle into a lantern, it will remain in the lantern till it is burnt out.” “Unless someone takes it out.” “Exactly! and when the lantern was brought back by Kate Quarm, was the candle there?” “N’n’o.” “It was not there. It was not burnt out, and it had not run away, eh?” “I suppose so.” “Then someone must have removed the candle. This is a point, your worships, I wish to establish, and that you should observe. Kate Quarm went out with a lantern in her hand, in which was a piece of candle that would certainly last three-quarters of an hour, if not an entire hour. When she returned, no candle was in the socket. I shall call other witnesses to establish this, and the fact that there were no signs of the candle having melted away; indeed, the lantern is here. Constable, please to produce it. If the Bench will kindly look at it, your worships will perceive that the candle was put in with a piece of brown paper wrapped about it. The paper is still there. The candle is gone. It was taken out. I will call the constable presently to testify that he took charge of the lantern immediately after the event, and that it has not been tampered with since. I now proceed to ask Mrs. Pepperill how long a time Kate Quarm was absent after she went out with Mrs. Jane Redmore. Now, Mrs. Pepperill, pray concentrate your mind and exercise your memory. How long was Kate absent?” “What’washing up?” asked Zerah. “No’we have nothing to do with the washing up. After that, when she went out with Jane Redmore.”