brought him to see me at my home.
Q. Yes. And we understand that you'd been in what we'll call a receptive state for that sort of thing. Is that correct, Lady Benning?
A. My dear man, I am not going to answer mere impertinences.
Q. Just so. Did you know anything about Darworth?
A. I knew, for instance, that he was a gentleman, and well-bred.
Q. I mean, anything about his past life?
A. No.
Q. Did he tell you, in fact, something like this: That, though he was, not a medium himself, he was intensely psychic; that he felt you had suffered a great bereavement, and influences were trying to get in touch with you; that he was the patron of a medium who he thought could help you? Did he, Lady Benning?
A. (A long hesitation) Yes. But not at first, not for a long time. He was very sympathetic about James.
Q. And a meeting with the medium was arranged? A. Yes.
Q. Where?
A. At Mr. Darworth's house in Charles Street.
Q. Were there many such meetings afterwards?
A. Many. (Here the witness began to show discomposure).
Q. Where, Lady Benning, you `got through' - so to speak - to Mr. James Halliday?
A. For God's sake, will you stop torturing me!
Q. Sorry. You understand, ma'am, I have to do this. Did Mr. Darworth join the circle?
A. Rarely. He said it disturbed him.
Q. So that he was not in the room at all?
A. No.
Q. Did you know anything about the medium?
A. No. (Hesitation). Except that he was not altogether of sound mind. Mr. Darworth had discussed his
case with the doctor in charge of the London League of Mercy for the mentally deficient. He told me how highly the doctor had praised James, and how much they thought of him. James used to send ?50 yearly to the League. Mr. Darworth said it was only a small piece of thoughtfulness, but it was wonderful.
Q. Just so. You made no inquiries about Mr. Darworth?
A. No.
Q. Ever give him money? No reply.
Q. Was it a great deal of money, Lady Benning?
A. My dear man, surely even you must have the intelligence to see that it is none of your business.
Q. Who first suggested that Plague Court should be exorcised?
A. (The witness spoke very strongly). My nephew James.
Q. I mean, who- Let's say, among people who can be called more easily as witnesses, who first put the
suggestion into audible English?
A. Thank you so much for the correction. It was I.
Q. What did Mr. Darworth think of it?
A. He did not wish to do it at first.
Q. But you convinced him?
A. (The witness made no reply, but used the words 'or said he didn't,' as though to herself).
Q. Does the name `Elsie Fenwick' mean anything to you, Lady Benning?
A. No.
This dialogue, as I remember it, contained nothing more than is set down in Masters' notes. She had not rambled or digressed, even when she faltered; and she had definitely had the better of the exchange. Masters, I think, was coolly angry. When he said, 'Now we come to tonight-' I expected on her part a quick watchfulness or tension.' Nothing of the sort happened.
Q. In this room a while ago, Lady Benning, after Mr. Blake had been speaking to Joseph Dennis, you made use of the expression, `Come into the front room, you, and ask which one of us killed Roger Darworth?'
A. Yes.
Q. What did you mean by it?
A. Did you ever hear of sarcasm, sergeant? I simply supposed the police would be fools enough to think so.
Q. But you don't think so?
A. Think what?
Q. Frankly, that one of the five people in the front room murdered Mr. Darworth?
A. No.
Q. Will you please tell us, Lady Benning, what happened after the five of you closed the door and retired for your (a word erased and substituted in the notes) prayers?
A. Nothing happened, in a psychic sense. We did not form a circle. We sat round the fireplace, and sat or knelt as we chose.
Q. Was it too dark for you to see anybody?
A. I dare say. The fire had gone out. I really did not notice.
Q. Not notice?
A. Oh, go away, you fool. My mind was on other things. Do you know what prayer is? Real prayer? If you did, you wouldn't ask stupid questions.
Q. Just so. You didn't hear anything at all, then-a chair creaking - a door opening-somebody getting up - for example?
A. No.
Q. You are sure?
No reply.
Q. Did anyone speak between the time this, this vigil began and the time you heard the bell ringing?
A. I heard nothing at all.
Q. But you are not prepared to swear there was nothing of the kind?
A. I am not prepared to swear anything, sergeant. Not just yet.
Q. Very well, Lady Benning. Then at lease you will tell us this: How were you sitting? I mean, what was the order of chairs in which you sat?
A. (Here were some protestations and denials). Well, I was on the extreme right of the fireplace. My nephew Dean was next to me, and then I think Miss Latimer. The others I am not sure of.
Q. Do you know of anybody, any living person, who wished to do Mr. Darworth harm?
A. No.
Q. Do you think he was a fake?
A. Possibly. It in no way affects the truth of the Truth.
Q. Do you still deny that you gave him money?
A. I don't think I've denied anything of the sort. (Very bitterly and suddenly). If I had, do you think
I should be such a fool as to admit it?
She seemed to feel triumphant as Masters let her go; Major Featherton was summoned to give her his arm back to the front room. Masters made no comment, and his face was inscrutable. He asked next for Ted Latimer.
Ted made a different sort of witness. He sauntered in with a defiant superciliousness, and tried to rattle Masters with a scrutiny f this sort: which only succeeded in making Ted look slightly drunk. Masters let him look, pretending to be mulling over his notes.. During the silence, Ted scraped his chair noisily before sitting down; frowned, and appeared to grow conscious of his grimy face. Though he tried to keep his aloof disdain, he grew rather verbose in his testimony, wherein deleted parts are indicated with dots.
Q. How long have you known Mr. Darworth?
A. Oh, a year, more or less. It was through our mutual interest in modern art. D'you know the Cadroc galleries in Bond Street, Inspector? Well, it was there.
Leon Dufour had been exhibiting some rather fine things in soap-
