His first inquiry was in reference to the conversation held between
her and Mr. Jeffrey at the time he visited her room. We had
listened to his account of it and now we wished to hear hers. But
the cue which had been given her by this very account had been
invaluable to her, and her testimony naturally coincided with his.
We found ourselves not an inch advanced. They had talked of her
sister's follies and she had advised patience, and that was all she
could say on the subject - all she would say, as we presently saw.
The coroner introduced a fresh topic.
"What can you tell us about the interview you had with you sister
prior to her going out on the night of her death?"
"Very little, except that it differed entirely from what is generally
supposed. She did not come to my room for conversation but simply
to tell me that she had an engagement. She was in an excited mood
but said nothing to alarm me. She even laughed when she left me;
perhaps to put me off my guard, perhaps because she was no longer
responsible."
"Did she know that Mr. Jeffrey had visited you earlier in the day?
Did she make any allusion to it, I mean?"
"None at all. She shrugged her shoulders when I asked if she was
well, and anticipated all further questions by running from the room.
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