"It is difficult to ascertain the precise time at which Constable Nightingale returned to the house in Gerard Street after his fruitless search for the man who had alarmed Mrs. Middlemore by his sudden rush from the premises. Truly he must have had the greatest difficulty in making his way through the streets. In explanation of our remark that in the statements of Mrs. Middlemore and the two constables there is something very like contradiction and confusion, we append their answers to a few of the questions put to them. We will deal with Constable Nightingale first:
"'When you left the house in Gerard Street in pursuit of the man what direction did you take?'
"'I went in the direction of Oxford Street.'
"'That would have led me to Leicester Square and Charing Cross.'
"'Did you choose the Oxford Street route at haphazard?'
"'I was told by Constable Wigg that the man went that way.'
"'How long were you engaged upon your search for the man?'
"'That would be near the length of time.'
"We will now deal with Constable Wigg. He was asked--
"'How did you summon Constable Nightingale to your assistance?'
"'Not many. He must have been very near.'
"'But he did not make his appearance immediately?'
"'Shall we say that two or three minutes elapsed before he joined you?'
"'You explained to him what had occurred?'
"'Yes, with the assistance of Mrs. Middlemore.'
"'Well, first one spoke, then the other.'
"'Did you tell Nightingale that the man had fled in the direction of Oxford Street?'
"'In point of fact, you did not see the man come out of the house?'
"'And? therefore, could not have given Nightingale the direction?'
"'When the man rushed by you from the house, you screamed loudly for the police?'
"'I kep' on calling till Constable Wigg came up.'
"'He did not come the moment you raised your voice?'
"'No, not immediate. Per'aps in two or three minutes.'
"'If we say two minutes we shall be within the mark?'
"'Did you inform Constable Nightingale that the man ran away in the direction of Oxford Street?'
"'No; I was so flustered that I didn't see which way he run.'
"These are all the extracts we need give for the purpose of our illustration, merely asking the reader to bear in mind that each witness was examined without the others being present. Is it quite unreasonable to infer that, had they been examined in each other's presence, their answers would not have been exactly as they are reported in the public prints?