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"Yes I understand," continued the Coroner deliberately, "that you were sitting reading on the bench just outside the longof the boudoir That is so, is it not?"

This was news tosideways at Poirot, I fancied that it was news to him as well

There was the faintest pause, the mere hesitation of a moment, before she answered: "Yes, that is so"

"And the boudoir as open, was it not?"

Surely her face grew a little paler as she answered: "Yes"

"Then you cannot have failed to hear the voices inside, especially as they were raised in anger In fact, they would be more audible where you were than in the hall"

"Possibly"

"Will you repeat to us what you overheard of the quarrel?"

"I really do not re"

"Do you mean to say you did not hear voices?"

"Oh, yes, I heard the voices, but I did not hear what they said" A faint spot of colour ca to private conversations"

The Coroner persisted

"And you re, Mrs Cavendish? Not one stray word or phrase to make you realize that it was a private conversation?"

She paused, and seemed to reflect, still outwardly as cal--I do not re scandal between husband and wife"

"Ah!" the Coroner leant back satisfied "That corresponds hat Dorcas heard But excuse h you realized it was a private conversation, you did not ht the leam of her tawny eyes as she raised thely have torn the little lawyer, with his insinuations, into pieces, but she replied quietly enough: "No I was very comfortable where I was I fixed my mind on my book"

"And that is all you can tell us?"

"That is all"

The exah I doubted if the Coroner was entirely satisfied with it I think he suspected that Mary Cavendish could tell more if she chose

Amy Hill, shop assistant, was next called, and deposed to having sold a will forardener at Styles

Willia a docu fixed the time at about 430, William was of the opinion that it was rather earlier