Part 28 (2/2)
”What sort of health had he?”
”So far as I know his health was good. I am not aware that he suffered from any disease. I am only judging by his appearance, which was that of a healthy man.”
”Should you describe him as well preserved or otherwise?”
”I should describe him as a well-preserved man for his age.”
”How should you describe his figure?”
”I should describe him as rather broad and stout in build, and fairly muscular, though not exceptionally so.”
Mr. Loram made a rapid note of these answers, and then said:
”You have told us, Mr. Jellicoe, that you have known the testator intimately for twenty-seven years. Now, did you ever notice whether he was accustomed to wear any rings upon his fingers?”
”He wore upon the third finger of his left hand a copy of an antique ring which bore the device of the Eye of Osiris. That was the only ring he ever wore as far as I know.”
”Did he wear it constantly?”
”Yes, necessarily; because it was too small for him, and having once squeezed it on he was never able to get it off again.”
This was the sum of Mr. Jellicoe's evidence, and at its conclusion the witness glanced inquiringly at Mr. Bellingham's counsel. But Mr. Heath remained seated, attentively considering the notes that he had just made, and finding that there was to be no cross-examination, Mr.
Jellicoe stepped down from the box. I leaned back on my bench, and, turning my head, observed Miss Bellingham deep in thought.
”What do you think of it?” I asked.
”It seems very complete and conclusive,” she replied. And then, with a sigh, she murmured: ”Poor old Uncle John! How horrid it sounds to talk of him in this cold-blooded, business-like way, as 'the testator,' as if he were nothing but a sort of algebraical sign.”
”There isn't much room for sentiment, I suppose, in the proceedings of the Probate Court,” I replied. To which she a.s.sented, and then asked: ”Who is this lady?”
”This lady” was a fas.h.i.+onably dressed young woman who had just bounced into the witness-box and was now being sworn. The preliminaries being finished, she answered Miss Bellingham's question and Mr. Loram's by stating that her name was Augustina Gwendoline Dobbs, and that she was housemaid to Mr. George Hurst, of ”The Poplars,” Eltham.
”Mr. Hurst lives alone, I believe?” said Mr. Loram.
”I don't know what you mean by that,” Miss Dobbs began; but the barrister explained:
”I mean that I believe he is unmarried?”
”Well, and what about it?” the witness demanded tartly.
”I am asking you a question.”
”I know that,” said the witness viciously; ”and I say that you've no business to make any such insinuations to a respectable young lady when there's a cook-housekeeper and a kitchenmaid living in the house, and him old enough to be my father----”
Here his lords.h.i.+p flattened his eyelids with startling effect, and Mr.
Loram interrupted: ”I make no insinuations. I merely ask, Is your employer, Mr. Hurst, an unmarried man, or is he not?”
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