Ayscough knows that!"
Mr. Parminter paid no attention to this remark. He had been whispering to
the police inspector, and now he turned to the Coroner.
"I should like this witness to stand down for a few minutes, sir," he
said. "I wish to have Miss Wildrose recalled."
The Coroner gently motioned Zillah to go back to the witness-box.
CHAPTER TEN
MELKY INTERVENES
Zillah had listened to Lauriston's answers to Mr. Parminter's searching
questions with an anxiety which was obvious to those who sat near her. The
signs of that anxiety were redoubled as she walked slowly to the box, and
the glance she threw at the Coroner was almost appealing. But the Coroner
was looking at his notes, and Zillah was obliged to turn to Mr. Parminter,
whose accents became more mellifluous than ever as he addressed her; Mr.
Parminter, indeed, confronting Zillah might have been taken for a kindly
benevolent gentleman whose sole object was to administer condolence and
comfort. Few people in court, however, failed to see the meaning of the
questions which he began to put in the suavest and softest of tones.
"I believe you assisted your late grandfather in his business?" suggested
Mr.
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