The next witness was Miss Constance Willoughby, who gave her testimony in low clear tones, and with perfect self-possession. It was observed by the feminine element in court that she did not look at her lover in the dock, but kept her eyes steadily fixed on Mr. Middleheath. Her story was a straightforward and simple one. She had become engaged to Mr. Penreath shortly before the war, and had seen him several times since he was invalided out of the Army. The last occasion was a month ago, when he called at her aunt's house at Lancaster Gate. She had noticed a great change in him since his return from the front. He was moody and depressed. She did not question him about his illness, as she thought he was out of spirits because he had been invalided out of the Army, and did not want to talk about it. He told her he intended to go away for a change until he got right again--he had not made up his mind where, but he thought somewhere on the East Coast, where it was cool and bracing, would suit him best--and he would write to her as soon as he got settled anywhere. She did not see him again, and did not hear from him or know anything of his movements till she read his description in a London paper as that of a man wanted by the Norfolk police for murder. Her aunt, who showed her the paper, communicated with the Penreaths' solicitor, Mr. Oakham. The following day she and her aunt were taken to Heathfield and identified the accused. "Your aunt took action to allay your anxiety, I understand?" said Mr. Heathfield, whose watchful eye had noted the unfavourable effect of this statement on the jury. The witness bowed. "Yes," she replied. "I was terribly anxious, as I had not heard from Mr. Penreath since he went away. Anything was better than the suspense." "You say accused was moody and depressed when you saw him?" asked Sir Herbert Templewood. "Yes." "May I take it that there was nothing terrifying in his behaviour--nothing to indicate that he was not in his right mind?" "No," replied the witness slowly. "He did not frighten me, but I was concerned about him. He certainly looked ill, and I thought he seemed a little strange." "As though he had something on his mind?" suggested Sir Herbert. "Yes," assented the witness. "Were you aware that the accused, when he went to see you at your aunt's home before he departed for Norfolk, was very short of money?" "I was not. If I had known----" "You would have helped him--is that what you were going to say?" asked Mr. Middleheath, as Sir Herbert resumed his seat without pursuing the point. "My aunt would have helped Mr. Penreath if she had known he was in monetary difficulties." "Thank you." Mr. Middleheath sat down, pulling his gown over his shoulders. The witness was leaving the stand when the sharp authoritative voice of the judge stopped her.