"And was this the object of his second visit late at night?" "My husband said of course it must be that, but that he wouldn't get a penny out of the old man." "After your husband's dismissal, are you aware whether he and Mr. Reginald Boyd met?" "They couldn't have met, sir, or my husband would have told me." "No doubt you have heard many of the theories that have been advanced to account for his absence from his home?" "Well, sir, I have. Some say--the wretches!--that he murdered Mr. Boyd, and has run off with the money. Some say that he has made away with himself, but it isn't possible he could have thought of such a thing. I _was_ a bit afraid of it the last night I saw him when he started up to go to Catchpole Square, but he saw what was in my mind, and he said, 'Don't you think that of me. You've got trouble enough to bear; I'm not going to bring more upon you. I'll do my duty, and fight on to the bitter end.' And that's what he would have done." "Have you any idea at all as to the cause of his absence?" "Yes, sir. Foul play." "Did he have any enemies?" "Not to my knowledge, sir. He wasn't of a quarrelsome disposition." "Were there any money transactions between him and Mr. Reginald Boyd?" "Not exactly transactions, sir. Once, when we had sickness at home, Mr. Reginald saw that my husband was worried, and he asked him if he was in any trouble. Hearing what it was, and that we were frightened to send for a doctor because of the expense, he gave my husband two sovereigns. We thought it was a loan, but afterwards, when we offered to pay it off at a shilling a week, Mr. Reginald said it was only a friendly little present, and that he would be vexed if we didn't look upon it as such. I remember my husband saying, 'I wish I was working for Mr. Reginald instead of for his father.' We were very grateful to him, and I always looked upon him as a model young gentleman till old Mr. Boyd was murdered, and then----" "Why do you pause? Go on." "No, sir, I won't. It wouldn't be fair." The Juror: "But we should like to hear, Mrs. Death?" "I'm not going to say anything more about it, sir, unless you force me to it. Every man ought to have his chance." The Juror (to the Coroner): "I think, Mr. Coroner, the witness should be directed to finish the sentence." The Coroner (to Mrs. Death): "You would rather not say what is in your mind?" Mrs. Death: "I would rather not, sir." "Then I shall not ask you to disclose it." The Juror: "But, Mr. Coroner----" The Coroner: "I am conducting this inquiry, and I have given my decision." (To the witness). "How long did you remain up on Friday night after your husband went to make a last appeal to his employer?"