"When she come to our house, the evening before ole Marster died."

"You admitted her to your Master's presence?"

"I never tuck no sech libberties. He tole me to let her in."

"You carried her to his room?"

"Yes, sir."

"About what time of the day was it?"

"Don't know."

"Gen'l Darrington always dined at three o'clock. Was it before or after
dinner?"

"After."

"How long was the prisoner in the General's room?"

"Don't know."

"Did she leave the house by the front door, or the side door?"

"Can't say. Didn't see her when she come out."

"About how long was she in the house?"

"I totes no watch, and I never had no luck guessing. I'm shore to land
wrong."

"Was it one hour or two?"

"Mebbe more, mebbe less."

"Where were you during that visit?"

"Feedin' my game pullets in the backyard."

"Did you hear any part of the conversation between the prisoner and
Gen'l Darrington?"

"No, sir! I'm above the meanness of eavesdrapping."

"How did you learn that she was the granddaughter of Gen'l Darrington?"

"Miss Angerline, the white 'oman what mends and sews, come to the back
piazer, and beckoned me to run there. She said ther must be a 'high ole
fracas', them was her words, agoin' on in Marster's room, for he was
cussin' and swearin', and his granddaughter was jawing back very
vicious. Sez I, 'Who'? Sez she, 'His granddaughter; that is Ellice's
chile'. Sez I, 'How do you know so much'? Sez she, 'I was darning them
liberry curtains, and I couldn't help hearing the wrangle'. Sez I, 'You
picked a oncommon handy time to tackle them curtains; they must be
mighty good to cure the ear-itch'. She axed me if I didn't see the
family favor in the 'oman's face; and I tole her no, but I would see
for myself. Sez she, to me, 'No yow won't, for the Gen'l is in a
tearing rage, and he's done drove her out, and kicked and slammed the
doors. She's gone.'"

"Then you did not see her?"

"I went to the front piazer, and I seen her far down the lawn, but
Marster rung his bell so savage, I had to run back to him."

"Did he tell you the prisoner was his granddaughter?"

"No, sir."

"Did you mention the fact to him?"

"I wouldn't 'a dared to meddle with his fambly bizness!"

"He appeared very angry and excited?"

"He 'peard to want some ole Conyyac what was in the sideboard, and I
brung the bottle to him."

"Do you remember whether his vault in the wall was open, when you
answered the bell?"

"I didn't