World's End: A Story in Three BooksJefferies, Richard
General
World's End: A Story in Three Books
Jefferies, Richard
England -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Murder -- Fiction
Mr Merton, who attended, self-employed, to watch the case for Violet,
and from attachment to his deceased friend—was selected as a
representative of the many. He deposed that he had last seen the
deceased alive at quarter to eleven on the marriage-day, at the moment
that the bride took leave of her father, and received his blessing.
This simple statement produced a profound impression. The deceased, who
little thought that that parting would last for ever, was then sitting
as usual in his armchair, which he could wheel about as he chose, close
to the open window—almost _in_ the window—and as witness escorted the
bride to her carriage, he looked back and saw the deceased had partly
turned round, so that the back of his head was towards the window. He
had then his velvet skullcap off, and witness believed that he was
engaged in silent prayer. This statement also naturally produced a
profound effect. The deceased’s head was partially bald, and the little
hair he had was grey. The day was very warm and sultry.
Mr Merton paused, and the next witness was the first person who had
seen the deceased after the fatal attack. This was the gardener. He
appeared in court, visibly shaking, bearing the marks of recent
excitement upon his countenance. He was an aged man, clad in corduroys
and grey, much-worn coat—not the suit he had worn on the wedding-day.
His name was Edward Jenkins. His wife pressed hard to be admitted to
the court, but was forbidden, and remained without, wringing her hands
and sobbing. This witness was much confused, and his answers were
difficult to get—not from reluctance to speak, but from excitement and
fear. He produced an unfavourable impression upon the Coroner, which
the medical man in court observing, remarked that he had recently
attended the witness for heart disease at the request of the deceased,
who took a great interest in his old servant. Even this, however, did
not altogether succeed—there was an evident feeling against the man.
His evidence, when reduced to writing, was singularly simple, vague,
and unsatisfactory. Why had he not gone to the church to see the
wedding, as it appeared every single person had done, not even
excepting the dog Dando? He had much desired to see the marriage of his
young mistress; but being the only man-servant, it was his duty to see
to the wines and to the table; and at the time when the carriage
started he was in the garden cutting fresh flowers, for the purpose of
strewing the lady’s footpath when she returned and descended from the
carriage, and also to decorate the breakfast table. How long was it
after the carriage started that anything happened? It seemed barely a
minute. He was in a remote part of the garden, hastily working,
when—almost immediately after the carriage started—he happened to look
up, and saw a stranger on the green in front of the house.
“Stay,” said the Coroner. “Describe that person.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account