His lips trembled slightly and he answered with a visible effort.
"Yes." A slight murmur ran around the room, partly of sympathy, partly of doubt.
The coroner put the same question again and Radnor repeated his answer, this time with a flush of anger.

The coroner paused a moment and then continued without comment: "You entered the cave with the rest of the party ?" "Yes." "But you left the others before they had made the complete round ?" "Yes." "Why was that ?" "I was not particularly interested.

I had seen the cave many times before." "Where did you leave the party ?" "I believe in the gallery of the broken column." "You left the cave immediately ?" "Yes." "Did you enter it again ?" "No." "You forgot Miss Mathers's coat and left it in the gallery of the broken column ?" "So it would seem." "Did you not think of that later and go back for it ?" Radnor snapped out his answer.

"No, I didn't think anything about the coat." "Are you in the habit of leaving young ladies' coats about in that off-hand way ?" A titter ran about the room, and Rad did not deign to notice this question.
I was indignant that the boy should be made to face such an ordeal.

This was not a regular trial and the coroner had no right to be more obnoxious than his calling required.