Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (1072 page)

That will do. Now, Miss Stonor! Thank you. The officer will swear you —

(
ENID
is sworn by the
OFFICER
)

OFFICER
: — The truth and nothing but the truth. Thank you.

(
ENID
kisses the Book
.)

CORONER
: Now, gentlemen, before I take the evidence, I will remind you of the general circumstances connected with the sudden decease of this unhappy young lady. She was Miss Violet Stonor, the elder of the stepdaughters of Dr. Grimesby Rylott, a retired Anglo-Indian doctor, who has lived for several years at this ancient house of Stoke Place, in Stoke Moran. She was born and educated in India, and her health was never robust. There was, however, no actual physical lesion, nor has any been discovered by the doctors. You have seen the room on the ground floor at the end of this passage, and you realise that the young lady was well guarded, having her sister’s bedroom on one side of her and her stepfather’s on the other. We will now take the evidence of the sister of the deceased as to what actually occurred. Miss Stonor, do you identify the body of the deceased as that of your sister, Violet Stonor?

ENID
: Yes.

CORONER
: Might I ask you to tell us what happened upon the night of April 14? I understand that your sister was in her ordinary health when you said good-night to her?

ENID
: Yes, she seemed as usual. She was never strong.

CORONER
: Had she some mental trouble?

ENID
(
hesitating)
: She was not very happy in her mind.

CORONER
: I beg that you will have no reserves. I am sure you appreciate the solemnity of this occasion. Why was your sister unhappy in her mind?

ENID
: There were obstacles to her engagement.

CORONER
: Yes, yes, I understand that this will be dealt with by another witness. Your sister was unhappy in her mind because she was engaged to be married and there were obstacles. Proceed.

ENID
: I was awakened shortly after midnight by a scream. I ran into the passage. As I reached her door I heard a sound like low music, then the key turn in the lock, and she rushed out in her nightdress. Her face was convulsed with terror. She screamed out a few words and fell into my arms, and then slipped down upon the floor. When I tried to raise her I found that she was dead. Then — then I fainted myself, and I knew no more.

CORONER
: When you came to yourself — ?

ENID
: When I came to myself I had been carried by my stepfather and
RODGERS
, the butler, back to my bed.

CORONER
: You mentioned music. What sort of music?

ENID
: It was a low, sweet sound.

CORONER
: Where did this music come from?

ENID
: I could not tell. I may say that once or twice I thought that I heard music at night.

CORONER
: You say that your sister screamed out some words. What were the words?

ENID
: It was incoherent raving. She was wild with terror.

CORONER
: But could you distinguish nothing?

ENID
: I heard the word “band” — I also heard the word “speckled.” I cannot say more. I was myself almost as terrified as she.

CORONER
: Dear me. Band — speckled — it sounds like delirium. She mentioned no name?

ENID
: None.

CORONER
: What light was in the passage?

ENID
: A lamp against the wall.

CORONER
: You could distinctly see your sister?

ENID
: Oh, yes.

CORONER
: And there was at that time no trace of violence upon her?

ENID
: No, no!

CORONER
: You are quite clear that she unlocked her door before she appeared?

ENID
: Yes, I can swear it.

CORONER
: And her window? Did she ever sleep with her window open?

ENID
: No, it was always fastened at night.

CORONER
: Did you examine it after her death?

ENID
: I saw it next morning; it was fastened then.

CORONER
: One other point, Miss Stonor. You have no reason to believe that your sister contemplated suicide?

ENID
: Certainly not.

CORONER
: At the same time when a young lady — admittedly of a nervous, highly-strung disposition — is crossed in her love affairs, such a possibility cannot be excluded. You can throw no light upon such a supposition?

ENID
: No.

FOREMAN
: Don t you think Mr. Coroner if the young lady had designs upon herself she would have stayed in her room and not rushed out into the passage?

CORONER
: Well that is for your consideration and judgement. You have heard this young lady’s evidence. Have any of you any questions to put?

ARMITAGE
(
rising
): Well I’m a plain man, a Methodist and the son of a Methodist —

CORONER
: What is your name sir?

ARMITAGE
: I’m Mr. Armitage sir.
I own the big shop in the village.

CORONER
: Well sir?

ARMITAGE
: I’m a Methodist and the son of a Methodist —

CORONER
: Your religious opinions are not under discussion, Mr. Armitage.

ARMITAGE
: But I speaks my mind as man to man I pays my taxes the same as the rest of them.

CORONER
: Have you any questions to ask?

ARMITAGE
: I would like to ask this young lady whether her stepfather uses her ill for there are some queer stories got about in the village.

CORONER
: The question would be out of order. It does not bear upon the death of the deceased.

FOREMAN
: Well sir I will put Mr. Armitage’s question in another shape. Can you tell us Miss, whether your stepfather ill used the deceased young lady?

ENID
: He — he was not always gentle.

ARMITAGE
: Does he lay hands on you? — that’s what I want to know.

CORONER
: Really, Mr. Armitage.

ARMITAGE
: Excuse me, Mr. Coroner. I’ve lived in this village, boy and man for fifty years and I can look any man in the face.

(
ARMITAGE
sits
.)

CORONER
: You have heard the question, Miss Stonor. I don’t know that we could insist upon your answering it.

ENID
: Gentlemen, my stepfather has spent his life in the tropics. It has affected his health. There are times — there are times — when he loses control over his temper. At such times he is liable to be violent. My sister and I thought — hoped — that he was not really responsible for it. He is sorry for it afterwards.

CORONER
: Well, Miss Stonor, I am sure I voice the sentiments of the Jury when I express our profound sympathy for the sorrow which has come upon you.

(
JURY
all murmur, “Certainly,” “Quite so,” etc
.)

Call Mr. Scott Wilson. We need not detain you any longer.

(
ENID
rises and goes into the morning-room.)

OFFICER
(
at
door
): Mr. Scott Wilson.

(
Enter
SCOTT
WILSON —
a commonplace young gentleman
.)

CORONER
: Swear him, officer —

(
SCOTT
WILSON
mumbles and kisses the Book.
)

I understand, Mr. Scott Wilson, that you were engaged to be married to the deceased.

WILSON
: Yes, sir.

CORONER
: Since how long?

WILSON
: Six weeks.

CORONER
: Was there any quarrel between you?

WILSON
: None.

CORONER
: Were you in a position to marry?

WILSON
: Yes.

CORONER
: Was there any talk of an immediate marriage?

WILSON
: Well, sir, we hoped before the summer was over.

CORONER
: We hear of obstacles. What were the obstacles?

WILSON
: Dr. Rylott. He would not hear of the marriage.

CORONER
: Why not?

WILSON
: He gave no reason, sir.

CORONER
: There was some scandal, was there not?

WILSON
: Yes, sir, he assaulted me.

CORONER
: What happened?

WILSON
: He met me in the village. He was like a raving madman. He struck me several times with his cane, and he set his boar-hound upon me.

CORONER
: What did you do?

WILSON
: I took refuge in one of the little village shops.

ARMITAGE
(
jumping up
): I beg your pardon, young gentleman, you took refuge in my shop.

WILSON
: Yes, sir, I took refuge in Mr. Armitage’s shop.

(
ARMITAGE
sits
.)

CORONER
: And a police charge resulted?

WILSON
: I withdrew it, sir, out of consideration for my fiancée.

CORONER
: But you continued your engagement?

WILSON
: I would not be bullied out of that.

CORONER
: Quite so. But this opposition, and her fears as to your safety, caused Miss Stonor great anxiety?

WILSON
: Yes.

CORONER
: Apart from that, you can say nothing which throws any light on this sad event?

WILSON
: No. I had not seen her for a week before her death.

CORONER
: She never expressed any particular apprehension to you?

WILSON
: She was always nervous and unhappy.

CORONER
: But nothing definite?

WILSON
: No.

CORONER
: Any questions, gentlemen. (
Pause
.) Very good. Call Dr. Watson! You may go.

(
SCOTT
WILSON
goes out through the entrance hall.

OFFICER
(
at morning-room door
): Dr.
WATSON
!

(
Enter
DR
.
WATSON
.)

CORONER
: You will kindly take the oath. Gentlemen, at the opening of this Court, and before you viewed the body, you had read to you the evidence of Professor Van Donop, the pathologist who is unable to be present to-day. Dr. Watson’s evidence is supplementary to that. You are not in practice, I understand, Dr. Watson?