She¡¡raised¡¡the¡¡thick¡¡veil¡¡she¡¡had¡¡pulled¡¡down¡¡over¡¡her¡¡face¡¡while¡¡they¡¡were¡¡going¡¡through¡¡that¡¡sinister£»¡¡wolfish¡looking¡¡crowd¡¡outside£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡about¡¡her¡£
Many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gentlemen¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡mostly¡¡wore¡¡tall¡¡hats¡¡and¡¡good¡¡overcoats¡¡¡¡¡¡¡standing¡¡round¡¡and¡¡about¡¡her¡¡looked¡¡vaguely¡¡familiar¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡picked¡¡out¡¡one¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡famous¡¡journalist£»¡¡whose¡¡shrewd£»¡¡animated¡¡face¡¡was¡¡familiar¡¡to¡¡her¡¡owing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡widely¡¡advertised¡¡in¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡a¡¡preparation¡¡for¡¡the¡¡hair¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡preparation¡¡which¡¡in¡¡happier£»¡¡more¡¡prosperous¡¡days¡¡Bunting¡¡had¡¡had¡¡great¡¡faith¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡used£»¡¡or¡¡so¡¡he¡¡always¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡great¡¡benefit¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡gentleman¡¡was¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡an¡¡eager¡¡circle£»¡¡half¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡men¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡listening¡¡deferentially¡¡when¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡and¡¡each¡¡of¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡so¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡realised£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡Somebody¡£
How¡¡strange£»¡¡how¡¡amazing£»¡¡to¡¡reflect¡¡that¡¡from¡¡all¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡from¡¡their¡¡doubtless¡¡important¡¡avocations£»¡¡one¡¡unseen£»¡¡mysterious¡¡beckoner¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡all¡¡these¡¡men¡¡here¡¡together£»¡¡to¡¡this¡¡sordid¡¡place£»¡¡on¡¡this¡¡bitterly¡¡cold£»¡¡dreary¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡all¡¡thinking¡¡of£»¡¡talking¡¡of£»¡¡evoking¡¡one¡¡unknown£»¡¡mysterious¡¡personality¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shadowy¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡terribly¡¡real¡¡human¡¡being¡¡who¡¡chose¡¡to¡¡call¡¡himself¡¡The¡¡Avenger¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡somewhere£»¡¡not¡¡so¡¡very¡¡far¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them¡¡all¡¡The¡¡Avenger¡¡was¡¡keeping¡¡these¡¡clever£»¡¡astute£»¡¡highly¡¡trained¡¡minds¡¡¡¡¡aye£»¡¡and¡¡bodies£»¡¡too¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡bay¡£
Even¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting£»¡¡sitting¡¡here¡¡unnoticed£»¡¡realised¡¡the¡¡irony¡¡of¡¡her¡¡presence¡¡among¡¡them¡£
CHAPTER¡¡XIX
It¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sitting¡¡there¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡was¡¡really¡¡about¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡her¡¡official¡¡friend¡¡came¡¡back¡£
¡¨Better¡¡come¡¡along¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡¨it'll¡¡begin¡¡soon¡£¡¨
She¡¡followed¡¡him¡¡out¡¡into¡¡a¡¡passage£»¡¡up¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡steep¡¡stone¡¡steps£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Coroner's¡¡Court¡£
The¡¡court¡¡was¡¡big£»¡¡well¡lighted¡¡room£»¡¡in¡¡some¡¡ways¡¡not¡¡unlike¡¡a¡¡chapel£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡so¡¡that¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡gallery¡¡ran¡¡half¡way¡¡round£»¡¡a¡¡gallery¡¡evidently¡¡set¡¡aside¡¡for¡¡the¡¡general¡¡public£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡now¡¡crammed¡¡to¡¡its¡¡utmost¡¡capacity¡£
Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡glanced¡¡timidly¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡serried¡¡row¡¡of¡¡faces¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been¡¡for¡¡her¡¡good¡¡fortune¡¡in¡¡meeting¡¡the¡¡man¡¡she¡¡was¡¡now¡¡following£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡there¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡had¡¡to¡¡try¡¡and¡¡make¡¡her¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡failed¡£¡¡¡¡Those¡¡people¡¡had¡¡rushed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡were¡¡opened£»¡¡pushing£»¡¡fighting¡¡their¡¡way¡¡in¡¡a¡¡way¡¡she¡¡could¡¡never¡¡have¡¡pushed¡¡or¡¡fought¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡just¡¡a¡¡few¡¡women¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡set£»¡¡determined¡looking¡¡women£»¡¡belonging¡¡to¡¡every¡¡class£»¡¡but¡¡made¡¡one¡¡by¡¡their¡¡love¡¡of¡¡sensation¡¡and¡¡their¡¡power¡¡of¡¡forcing¡¡their¡¡way¡¡in¡¡where¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡women¡¡were¡¡few£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡those¡¡standing¡¡there¡¡were¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡also¡¡representative¡¡of¡¡every¡¡class¡¡of¡¡Londoner¡£
The¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court¡¡was¡¡like¡¡an¡¡arena£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡sunk¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡steps¡¡below¡¡the¡¡surrounding¡¡gallery¡£¡¡¡¡Just¡¡now¡¡it¡¡was¡¡comparatively¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡people£»¡¡save¡¡for¡¡the¡¡benches¡¡on¡¡which¡¡sat¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡to¡¡compose¡¡the¡¡jury¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡way¡¡from¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡huddled¡¡together¡¡in¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡big¡¡pew£»¡¡stood¡¡seven¡¡people¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡women¡¡and¡¡four¡¡men¡£
¡¨D'you¡¡see¡¡the¡¡witnesses£¿¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡the¡¡inspector£»¡¡pointing¡¡these¡¡out¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡supposed¡¡her¡¡to¡¡know¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡with¡¡familiar¡¡knowledge£»¡¡but£»¡¡if¡¡that¡¡were¡¡so£»¡¡she¡¡made¡¡no¡¡sign¡£
Between¡¡the¡¡windows£»¡¡facing¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡room£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡little¡¡platform£»¡¡on¡¡which¡¡stood¡¡a¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡an¡¡arm¡chair¡£¡¡¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡guessed¡¡rightly¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡there¡¡the¡¡coroner¡¡would¡¡sit¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡of¡¡the¡¡platform¡¡was¡¡the¡¡witness¡stand£»¡¡also¡¡raised¡¡considerably¡¡above¡¡the¡¡jury¡£
Amazingly¡¡different£»¡¡and¡¡far£»¡¡far¡¡more¡¡grim¡¡and¡¡awe¡inspiring¡¡than¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inquest¡¡which¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡so¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡on¡¡that¡¡bright¡¡April¡¡day£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡¡inn¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡the¡¡coroner¡¡had¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡level¡¡as¡¡the¡¡jury£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡witnesses¡¡had¡¡simply¡¡stepped¡¡forward¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡taken¡¡their¡¡place¡¡before¡¡him¡£
Looking¡¡round¡¡her¡¡fearfully£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡would¡¡surely¡¡die¡¡if¡¡ever¡¡she¡¡were¡¡exposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ordeal¡¡of¡¡standing¡¡in¡¡that¡¡curious¡¡box¡like¡¡stand£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡stared¡¡across¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bench¡¡where¡¡sat¡¡the¡¡seven¡¡witnesses¡¡with¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡sincere¡¡pity¡¡in¡¡her¡¡heart¡£
But¡¡even¡¡she¡¡soon¡¡realised¡¡that¡¡her¡¡pity¡¡was¡¡wasted¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡woman¡¡witness¡¡looked¡¡eager£»¡¡excited£»¡¡and¡¡animated£»¡¡well¡¡pleased¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡attention¡¡and¡¡attraction¡¡to¡¡the¡¡general¡¡public¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡plain¡¡each¡¡was¡¡enjoying¡¡her¡¡part¡¡of¡¡important£»¡¡if¡¡humble£»¡¡actress¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thrilling¡¡drama¡¡which¡¡was¡¡now¡¡absorbing¡¡the¡¡attention¡¡of¡¡all¡¡London¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡might¡¡almost¡¡be¡¡said¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡world¡£
Looking¡¡at¡¡these¡¡women£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡wondered¡¡vaguely¡¡which¡¡was¡¡which¡£¡¡¡¡Was¡¡it¡¡that¡¡rather¡¡draggle¡tailed¡looking¡¡young¡¡person¡¡who¡¡had¡¡certainly£»¡¡or¡¡almost¡¡certainly£»¡¡seen¡¡The¡¡Avenger¡¡within¡¡ten¡¡seconds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡double¡¡crime¡¡being¡¡committed£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡who£»¡¡aroused¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡victims'¡¡cry¡¡of¡¡terror£»¡¡had¡¡rushed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡window¡¡and¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡murderer's¡¡shadowy¡¡form¡¡pass¡¡swiftly¡¡by¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fog£¿
Yet¡¡another¡¡woman£»¡¡so¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡now¡¡remembered£»¡¡had¡¡given¡¡a¡¡most¡¡circumstantial¡¡account¡¡of¡¡what¡¡The¡¡Avenger¡¡looked¡¡like£»¡¡for¡¡he£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡supposed£»¡¡had¡¡actually¡¡brushed¡¡by¡¡her¡¡as¡¡he¡¡passed¡£
Those¡¡two¡¡women¡¡now¡¡before¡¡her¡¡had¡¡been¡¡interrogated¡¡and¡¡cross¡examined¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡police£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡representatives¡¡of¡¡every¡¡newspaper¡¡in¡¡London¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡from¡¡what¡¡they¡¡had¡¡both¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡unluckily¡¡their¡¡accounts¡¡materially¡¡differed¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡that¡¡official¡¡description¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Avenger¡¡had¡¡been¡¡worked¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡which¡¡described¡¡him¡¡as¡¡being¡¡a¡¡good¡looking£»¡¡respectable¡¡young¡¡fellow¡¡of¡¡twenty¡eight£»¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡newspaper¡¡parcel¡£
As¡¡for¡¡the¡¡third¡¡woman£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡doubtless¡¡an¡¡acquaintance£»¡¡a¡¡boon¡¡companion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡£
Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡looked¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡witnesses£»¡¡and¡¡focused¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡on¡¡another¡¡unfamiliar¡¡sight¡£¡¡¡¡Specially¡¡prominent£»¡¡running¡¡indeed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shut¡in¡¡space£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡coroner's¡¡high¡¡dais¡¡right¡¡across¡¡to¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wooden¡¡barrier£»¡¡was¡¡an¡¡ink¡splashed¡¡table¡¡at¡¡which£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡first¡¡taken¡¡her¡¡place£»¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sitting¡¡three¡¡men¡¡busily¡¡sketching£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡every¡¡seat¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table¡¡was¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡tired£»¡¡intelligent¡looking¡¡men£»¡¡each¡¡with¡¡a¡¡notebook£»¡¡or¡¡with¡¡some¡¡loose¡¡sheets¡¡of¡¡paper£»¡¡before¡¡him¡£
¡¨Them's¡¡the¡¡reporters£»¡¨¡¡whispered¡¡her¡¡friend¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡coming¡¡till¡¡the¡¡last¡¡minute£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡has¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡last¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¡At¡¡an¡¡ordinary¡¡inquest¡¡there¡¡are¡¡only¡¡two¡¡¡¡¡maybe¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡attending£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡every¡¡paper¡¡in¡¡the¡¡kingdom¡¡has¡¡pretty¡¡well¡¡applied¡¡for¡¡a¡¡pass¡¡to¡¡that¡¡reporters'¡¡table¡£¡¨
He¡¡looked¡¡consideringly¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡well¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Now¡¡let¡¡me¡¡see¡¡what¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do¡¡for¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡¨
Then¡¡he¡¡beckoned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡coroner's¡¡officer£º¡¡¡¨Perhaps¡¡you¡¡could¡¡put¡¡this¡¡lady¡¡just¡¡over¡¡there£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡by¡¡herself£¿¡¡¡¡Related¡¡to¡¡a¡¡relation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deceased£»¡¡but¡¡doesn't¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡¨¡¡¡¡He¡¡whispered¡¡a¡¡word¡¡or¡¡two£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other¡¡nodded¡¡sympathetically£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡with¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡put¡¡her¡¡just¡¡here£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡muttered¡£¡¡¡¨There's¡¡no¡¡one¡¡coming¡¡there¡¡to¡day¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡see£»¡¡there¡¡are¡¡only¡¡seven¡¡witnesses¡¡¡¡¡sometimes¡¡we¡¡have¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¨
And¡¡he¡¡kindly¡¡put¡¡her¡¡on¡¡a¡¡now¡¡empty¡¡bench¡¡opposite¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡seven¡¡witnesses¡¡stood¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡with¡¡their¡¡eager£»¡¡set¡¡faces£»¡¡ready¡¡¡¡¡¡¡aye£»¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ready¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡play¡¡their¡¡part¡£
For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡every¡¡eye¡¡in¡¡the¡¡court¡¡was¡¡focused¡¡on¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting£»¡¡but¡¡soon¡¡those¡¡who¡¡had¡¡stared¡¡so¡¡hungrily£»¡¡so¡¡intently£»¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡realised¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡case¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡there¡¡as¡¡a¡¡spectator£»¡¡and£»¡¡more¡¡fortunate¡¡than¡¡most£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡a¡¡¡¨friend¡¡at¡¡court£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡£»so¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡comfortably£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡having¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crowd¡£
But¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡long¡¡left¡¡in¡¡isolation¡£¡¡¡¡Very¡¡soon¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡important¡looking¡¡gentlemen¡¡she¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡downstairs¡¡came¡¡into¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡and¡¡were¡¡ushered¡¡over¡¡to¡¡her¡¡seat¡¡while¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡including¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡writer¡¡whose¡¡face¡¡was¡¡so¡¡familiar¡¡that¡¡it¡¡almost¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kindly¡¡acquaintance£»¡¡were¡¡accommodated¡¡at¡¡the¡¡reporters'¡¡table¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Gentlemen£»¡¡the¡¡Coroner¡£¡¨
The¡¡jury¡¡stood¡¡up£»¡¡shuffling¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡again£»¡¡over¡¡the¡¡spectators¡¡there¡¡fell¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡silence¡£
And¡¡then¡¡what¡¡immediately¡¡followed¡¡recalled¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡that¡¡informal¡¡little¡¡country¡¡inquest¡¡of¡¡long¡¡ago¡£
First¡¡came¡¡the¡¡¡¨Oyez£¡¡¡¡¡Oyez£¡¡¨¡¡the¡¡old¡¡Norman¡French¡¡summons¡¡to¡¡all¡¡whose¡¡business¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡a¡¡solemn¡¡inquiry¡¡into¡¡the¡¡death¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sudden£»¡¡unexplained£»¡¡terrible¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fellow¡being¡£
The¡¡jury¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡were¡¡fourteen¡¡of¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡raised¡¡their¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡solemnly¡¡chanted¡¡together¡¡the¡¡curious¡¡words¡¡of¡¡their¡¡oath¡£
Then¡¡came¡¡a¡¡quick£»¡¡informal¡¡exchange¡¡of¡¡sentences¡¡'twixt¡¡the¡¡coroner¡¡and¡¡his¡¡officer¡£
Yes£»¡¡everything¡¡was¡¡in¡¡order¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡jury¡¡had¡¡viewed¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡quickly¡¡corrected¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¡for£»¡¡technically¡¡speaking£»¡¡the¡¡inquest¡¡just¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be¡¡held¡¡only¡¡concerned¡¡one¡¡body¡£
And¡¡then£»¡¡amid¡¡a¡¡silence¡¡so¡¡absolute¡¡that¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡rustle¡¡could¡¡be¡¡heard¡¡through¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡the¡¡coroner¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡clever¡looking¡¡gentleman£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡so¡¡old¡¡as¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Bunting¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡to¡¡occupy¡¡so¡¡important¡¡a¡¡position¡¡on¡¡so¡¡important¡¡a¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡little¡¡history£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡and¡¡mysterious¡¡Avenger¡¡crimes¡£
He¡¡spoke¡¡very¡¡dearly£»¡¡warming¡¡to¡¡hi
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