Part 36 (1/2)
”No; very few. It is not our season.”
”In that case you would have plenty of facilities for observing them?”
”I saw them perhaps a dozen times each day. I superintended the waiting at _a dejeuner_ and _table d'hote_.”
”You have no doubt that the lady was the original of that portrait?”
”Not the slightest,” he replied, shrugging his shoulders.
”Have you seen the respondent, Mrs. Willoughby, since?” the judge asked, in slow deliberate tones.
”Yes, I saw her here in London a few weeks ago. I was brought to England by Monsieur Willoughby to identify madame and give evidence.”
”When you saw her, did you tell her that you recognised her as Madame Lapasque?”
”Of course I told her. She then grew angry, and ordered me from the room.”
”Is that all the evidence you have, Mr. Grover?” asked the judge, when he had concluded taking notes of the witness's cross-examination.
”No, my lord. I have further corroborative evidence,” counsel replied.
The Italian walked from the box, and his place was taken by Nanette Rambert.
”What are you, Miss Rambert?” asked Mr. Grover, glancing at his brief.
”Lady's maid.”
”You identify these photographs, I believe?”
”Yes; the lady is Madame Lapasque, my late mistress, and the gentleman her husband.”
”How long were you in the respondent's service?”
”About two years. At the time she engaged me at Cannes, monsieur was not with her, but about three months later he joined her, and we travelled first to San Remo, then to Rome, Homburg, and London.”
”And you always believed Lapasque to be her husband?” asked Mr. Grover.
”Of course, m'sieur. Madame always told me he was.”
”How long ago did you leave her service?”
”About six months.”
”Have you seen either since?”
”I have only seen madame. I was with M'sieur Willoughby, and we saw her come from a house in Victoria Street, Westminster.”
”Did you identify her?”
”Yes, without the slightest difficulty. I did not, however, speak to her.”