MR. WALTERS (continuing his cross-examination): Datchery is rather a famous person at present? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: And I suppose you consider it an honour to be considered Datchery? WITNESS: I am proud to have worked down there. MR. WALTERS: You knew a little about the Drood case? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: You knew a little of it from Mr. Grewgious? WITNESS: I have stated that it was Mr. Grewgious’s idea that I should go down there and investigate in character. MR. WALTERS: It was not a dramatic inspiration? WITNESS: The inspiration was Mr. Grewgious’s. MR. WALTERS: When you fell asleep on that occasion, were you pretending? WITNESS: No. MR. WALTERS: You were not preparing for the part of Datchery in advance? WITNESS: Datchery never snored, did he? MR. WALTERS: You were not preparing a part? WITNESS: I had no idea that Mr. Drood was going to be murdered. MR. WALTERS: You were not pretending, therefore? WITNESS: I was not. MR. WALTERS: You are a man of short sentences, according to the Official Record? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: Very abrupt? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: Have you given us only two or three words to-night in your sentences? WITNESS: I have been answering under some provocation. MR. WALTERS: Did your Counsel provoke you to your long sentences? WITNESS: I trust not. MR. WALTERS: Were you pretending when you gave those short sentences in Mr. Datchery’s character? WITNESS: No; but a man in the witness-box is not a good criterion. MR. WALTERS: I suppose you can write? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: I suppose your professional standing teaches you to keep correct records? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: You did not keep the usual records making your investigations in Cloisterham? WITNESS: What are the usual records? MR. WALTERS: I put it to you that you did not write anything down? WITNESS: I did. MR. WALTERS: Why did you use the chalk marks? WITNESS: Merely as a matter for my own amusement. MR. WALTERS: Were they to be used in any way? WITNESS: I should say not. MR. WALTERS: You valued your time so much that you wasted it by putting chalk marks on a door! WITNESS: The amount of time would not be much. MR. WALTERS: You were not going to take the cupboard door to London as evidence? WITNESS: No. MR. WALTERS: It was all a waste of your time? WITNESS: Yes; but harmless. Even a rejected dramatist is entitled to have some hobby. MR. WALTERS: You know John Jasper? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: Did you ever see him take opium? WITNESS: Never. MR. WALTERS: Do you know how long an opium fit lasts? WITNESS: No. I imagine it rather depends on the amount of opium taken, and various other circumstances. MR. WALTERS: Suppose a man was in the habit of having a particular smoke of opium—mixing it in a particular way; do you think it would be over in a few minutes? WITNESS: I could not tell you. Nor do I know whether he had those habits. MR. WALTERS: You don’t think it would take a few hours?