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Chapter XI. The Case for the Prosecution
”
“Thesameaddresstowhichyousenttheparcel?”
“Yes.”
“Andthelettercamefromthere?”
“Yes.”
Likeabeastofprey,Heavywetherfelluponhim:
“Howdoyouknow?”
“I—Idon’tunderstand.”
“HowdoyouknowthatlettercamefromStyles?Didyounoticethepostmark?”
“No—but——”
“Ah,youdidnotnoticethepostmark!AndyetyouaffirmsoconfidentlythatitcamefromStyles.Itmight,infact,havebeenanypostmark?”
“Y—es.”
“Infact,theletter,thoughwrittenonstampednotepaper,mighthavebeenpostedfromanywhere?FromWales,forinstance?”
Thewitnessadmittedthatsuchmightbethecase,andSirErnestsignifiedthathewassatisfied.
ElizabethWells,secondhousemaidatStyles,statedthataftershehadgonetobedsherememberedthatshehadboltedthefrontdoor,insteadofleavingitonthelatchasMr.Inglethorphadrequested.Shehadaccordinglygonedownstairsagaintorectifyhererror.HearingaslightnoiseintheWestwing,shehadpeepedalongthepassage,andhadseenMr.JohnCavendishknockingatMrs.Inglethorp’sdoor.
SirErnestHeavywethermadeshortworkofher,andunderhisunmercifulbullyingshecontradictedherselfhopelessly,andSirErnestsatdownagainwithasatisfiedsmileonhisface.
WiththeevidenceofAnnie,astothecandlegreaseonthefloor,andastoseeingtheprisonertakethecoffeeintotheboudoir,theproceedingswereadjourneduntilthefollowingday.
Aswewenthome,MaryCavendishspokebitterlyagainsttheprosecutingcounsel.
