"'No, she died four years ago.' "'How long were you married?' "'A few months only.' "'At the time of her mother's death the deceased was sixteen years old?' "'Yes.' "'Did her death affect the deceased in any particular way?' "'She was deeply grieved at the loss, but apart from this natural feeling there was no change in her.' "'Have you observed any change in her during the last few days or weeks?' "'No; we had had domestic worries with servants, such as happen to most housekeepers in London, but they had passed away, and as we had determined to reside abroad we regarded them rather with amusement. We looked forward to an easier life in a foreign country.' "'On the night of your stepdaughter's death, at what hour did she retire to her room?' "'At a little after ten.' "'Who was in the house besides yourselves?' "'No one.' "'You had a servant left. What became of her?' "'It was arranged that she should remain in our service on the Continent, and we sent her on before us.' "'Where to?' "'To Lucerne. I had taken a châlet in Vitznau, and she was to proceed there to see to the rooms, and to await our arrival.' "'How is it that you and the deceased remained in the house when there were no servants in it?' "'It was against my desire. I wished my daughter to go to a hotel, but she refused. She said we could manage very well at home. She had an aversion to English hotels, and was never happy in one. As we were to leave London the next day, I humored her.' "'Can you give us any explanation of the cause of her aversion to our hotels?' "'She was in the habit of saying that they were so different to Continental hotels--so stiff and formal. But I do not think that was quite the reason. She was nervously distrustful of herself in the society of strangers, and was, I regret to say, of a melancholy disposition.' "'Had this been always the case with her?' "'From her childhood, her mother used to tell me. For years past I have endeavored to bring her to a more cheerful frame of mind by travel and constant change of scene, but I fear my efforts were wasted.' "'Was her mother of a similar disposition?' "'Yes. It is a natural inference that it was inherited.' "'How did you pass the day before her death?' "'We breakfasted together in the morning--a simple breakfast, which she herself got ready--and then I went into the city to complete the arrangements for our journey, and to settle my monetary affairs. This occupied several hours. At six o'clock I returned home, with the intention of taking her out to dinner; but she had a little dinner prepared for us, and said she would enjoy it much more than dining out. After dinner we chatted, and she played upon her zither.' "'Cheerful airs?' "'No; but she was a very sweet player, and whether her music was sad or bright, it was a pleasure to listen to it.' "'Have you at any time observed a disposition in her to commit suicide?'