Cokeson. [With his hand to his ear] I’m a little deaf.

Frome.  Was there anything in the course of that morning—­I mean before the discovery—­that caught your attention?

Cokeson.  Ye-es—­a woman.

The judge.  How is this relevant, Mr. Frome?

Frome.  I am trying to establish the state of mind in which the prisoner committed this act, my lord.

The judge.  I quite appreciate that.  But this was long after the act.

Frome.  Yes, my lord, but it contributes to my contention.

The judge.  Well!

Frome.  You say a woman.  Do you mean that she came to the office?

Cokeson.  Ye-es.

Frome.  What for?

Cokeson.  Asked to see young Falder; he was out at the moment.

Frome.  Did you see her?

Cokeson.  I did.

Frome.  Did she come alone?

Cokeson. [Confidentially] Well, there you put me in a difficulty. 
I mustn’t tell you what the office-boy told me.

Frome.  Quite so, Mr. Cokeson, quite so——­

Cokeson. [Breaking in with an air of “You are young—­leave it to me”] But I think we can get round it.  In answer to a question put to her by a third party the woman said to me:  “They’re mine, sir.”

The judge.  What are?  What were?

Cokeson.  Her children.  They were outside.

The judge.  How do you know?

Cokeson.  Your lordship mustn’t ask me that, or I shall have to tell you what I was told—­and that’d never do.

The judge. [Smiling] The office-boy made a statement.

Cokeson.  Egg-zactly.

Frome.  What I want to ask you, Mr. Cokeson, is this.  In the course of her appeal to see Falder, did the woman say anything that you specially remember?

Cokeson. [Looking at him as if to encourage him to complete the sentence] A leetle more, sir.

Frome.  Or did she not?

Cokeson.  She did.  I shouldn’t like you to have led me to the answer.

Frome. [With an irritated smile] Will you tell the jury what it was?

Cokeson.  “It’s a matter of life and death.”

Foreman of the jury.  Do you mean the woman said that?

Cokeson. [Nodding] It’s not the sort of thing you like to have said to you.

Frome. [A little impatiently] Did Falder come in while she was there? [Cokeson nods] And she saw him, and went away?

Cokeson.  Ah! there I can’t follow you.  I didn’t see her go.

Frome.  Well, is she there now?

Cokeson. [With an indulgent smile] No!