The Green Mummy - Page 40/191

"What did you think it contained?" asked the Coroner quickly.

"Clothes and curios from foreign parts," said the witness coolly.

"Did Mr. Bolton tell you so?"

"He told me nothing about the case," growled the witness, "but he

chatted a lot about Malta, which I know well, having put into that port

frequent when a sailor."

"Did he hint at any rows taking place at Malta?"

"No, he didn't."

"Did he say that he had enemies?"

"No, he didn't."

"Did he strike you as a man who was in fear of death?"

"No, he didn't," said the witness for the third time. "He seemed happy

enough. I never thought for one moment that he was dead until I heard

how his body had been found in the packing case."

The Coroner asked all manner of questions, and so did Inspector Date;

but all attempts to incriminate Quass were vain. He was bluff and

straightforward, and told--so far as could be judged--everything he

knew. There was nothing for it but to dismiss him, and Eliza Flight was

called as the last witness.

She also proved to be the most important, as she knew several things

which she had not told to her master, or to the reporters, or even to

the police. On being asked why she had kept silence, she said that her

desire was to obtain any reward that might be offered; but as she had

heard that there would be no reward, she was willing to tell what she

knew. It was an important piece of evidence.

The girl stated that Bolton had retired to bed at eight on the ground

floor, and the bedroom had a window--as marked in the plan--which looked

on to the river a stone-throw distant. At nine or a trifle later witness

went out to have a few words with her lover. In the darkness she saw

that the window was open and that Bolton was talking to an old woman

muffled in a shawl. She could not see the woman's face, nor judge of her

stature, as she was stooping down to listen to Bolton. Witness did

not take much notice, as she was in a hurry to see her lover. When she

returned past the window at ten o'clock it was closed and the light was

extinguished, so she thought that Mr. Bolton was asleep.

"But, to tell the truth," said Eliza Flight, "I never thought anything

of the matter at all. It was only after the murder that I saw how

important it was I should remember everything."

"And you have?"

"Yes, sir," said the girl, honestly enough. "I have told you everything

that happened on that night. Next morning--" She hesitated.

"Well, what about next morning?"

"Mr. Bolton had locked his door. I know that, because a few minutes

after eight on the night before, not knowing he had retired. I tried to

enter the room and make ready the bed for the night. He sang out through

the door--which was locked, for I tried it--that he was in bed. That was

a lie also, as after nine I saw him talking to the woman at the window."