"It is supposed that an inquest will have to be held; there is some slight evidence to prove that the blow, or push, or scuffle that caused the fall,was provoked by this poor fellow"s half-tipsy impertinence to a younglady, walking with the man who pushed the deceased over the edge ofthe platform. This much was observed by some one on the platform,who, however, thought no more about the matter, as the blow seemed ofslight consequence. There is also some reason to identify the lady withyourself; in which case--"
"I was not there," said Margaret, still keeping her expressionless eyesfixed on his face, with the unconscious look of a sleep-walker.
The inspector bowed but did not speak. The lady standing before himshowed no emotion, no fluttering fear, no anxiety, no desire to end theinterview. The information he had received was very vague; one of theporters, rushing out to be in readiness for the train, had seen a scuffle, atthe other end of the platform, between Leonards and a gentlemanaccompanied by a lady, but heard no noise; and before the train had gotto its full speed after starting, he had been almost knocked down by theheadlong run of the enraged half intoxicated Leonards, swearing andcursing awfully. He had not thought any more about it, till his evidencewas routed out by the inspector, who, on making some farther inquiry atthe railroad station, had heard from the station-master that a young ladyand gentleman had been there about that hour--the lady remarkablyhandsome--and said, by some grocer"s assistant present at the time, tobe a Miss Hale, living at Crampton, whose family dealt at his shop.
There was no certainty that the one lady and gentleman were identicalwith the other pair, but there was great probability. Leonards himselfhad gone, half-mad with rage and pain, to the nearest gin-palace forcomfort; and his tipsy words had not been attended to by the busywaiters there; they, however, remembered his starting up and cursinghimself for not having sooner thought of the electric telegraph, for somepurpose unknown; and they believed that he left with the idea of goingthere. On his way, overcome by pain or drink, he had lain down in theroad, where the police had found him and taken him to the Infirmary:
there he had never recovered sufficient consciousness to give anydistinct account of his fall, although once or twice he had hadglimmerings of sense sufficient to make the authorities send for thenearest magistrate, in hopes that he might be able to take down thedying man"s deposition of the cause of his death. But when themagistrate had come, he was rambling about being at sea, and mixingup names of captains and lieutenants in an indistinct manner with thoseof his fellow porters at the railway; and his last words were a curse onthe "Cornish trick" which had, he said, made him a hundred poundspoorer than he ought to have been. The inspector ran all this over in hismind--the vagueness of the evidence to prove that Margaret had been at the station--the unflinching, calm denial which she gave to such asupposition. She stood awaiting his next word with a composure thatappeared supreme.
"Then, madam, I have your denial that you were the lady accompanyingthe gentleman who struck the blow, or gave the push, which caused thedeath of this poor man?"
A quick, sharp pain went through Margaret"s brain. "Oh God! that Iknew Frederick were safe!" A deep observer of human countenancesmight have seen the momentary agony shoot out of her great gloomyeyes, like the torture of some creature brought to bay. But the inspectorthough a very keen, was not a very deep observer. He was a little struck,notwithstanding, by the form of the answer, which sounded like amechanical repetition of her first reply--not changed and modified inshape so as to meet his last question.
"I was not there," said she, slowly and heavily. And all this time shenever closed her eyes, or ceased from that glassy, dream-like stare. Hisquick suspicions were aroused by this dull echo of her former denial. Itwas as if she had forced herself to one untruth, and had been stunnedout of all power of varying it.
He put up his book of notes in a very deliberate manner. Then helooked up; she had not moved any more than if she had been some greatEgyptian statue.
"I hope you will not think me impertinent when I say, that I may have tocall on you again. I may have to summon you to appear on the inquest,and prove an alibi, if my witnesses" (it was but one who had recognisedher) "persist in deposing to your presence at the unfortunate event." Helooked at her sharply. She was still perfectly quiet--no change of colour,or darker shadow of guilt, on her proud face. He thought to have seenher wince: he did not know Margaret Hale. He was a little abashed byher regal composure. It must have been a mistake of identity. He wenton:
"It is very unlikely, ma"am, that I shall have to do anything of the kind. Ihope you will excuse me for doing what is only my duty, although itmay appear impertinent."
Margaret bowed her head as he went towards the door. Her lips werestiff and dry. She could not speak even the common words of farewell.
But suddenly she walked forwards, and opened the study door, andpreceded him to the door of the house, which she threw wide open forhis exit. She kept her eyes upon him in the same dull, fixed manner,until he was fairly out of the house. She shut the door, and went halfwayinto the study; then turned back, as if moved by some passionateimpulse, and locked the door inside.
Then she went into the study, paused--tottered forward--paused again- swayed for an instant where she stood, and fell prone on the floor in adead swoon.
