The Case for the Crown by Fred M. White — Read

A startled cry rang round the room. It came simultaneously from every man and woman standing there. A moment before they had been mechanically following a commonplace story of drink and accident, and now, suddenly, at a word, they had been thrown headlong into thrilling drama. And in that instant, in the vague intangible way in which such things happen, it came to Cecil that she had been transformed into the hunted here, and that these people were like the hounds hot upon her trail. It was that vague psychological instinct, the instinct of original man for the hunting of his fellows, the most fascinating of all dramas. And in that instant, too, Cecil divined that nearly every one there was against her. She glanced round, half timidly, yet wholly defiantly, but she could read no sympathy anywhere save in the eyes of Dr. Barclay and perhaps on the face of the coroner.

"Indeed!" the latter exclaimed. "This puts a different complexion upon matters altogether. I have something to think of besides the scope of my former inquiry. In common fairness to Mrs. Molyneux she ought to be legally represented in the face of a statement like this. If I had known what was coming I should certainly have cautioned her before I took her evidence. It is now close on 1 o'clock, and I propose to adjourn the inquiry for an hour. Then I will take Mr. Johnson's evidence, by which time, no doubt, Mrs. Molyneux will be properly represented."