in connection with the murder of
one Robert Ashton, which occurred at your father's house on the morning
of Tuesday last. The object of this hearing is to fix the responsibility
for that crime, so far as we can, pending a trial by jury. Tell the
Court, if you please, where you first met the deceased."

"In Hong Kong," replied Miss Temple, in a scarcely audible voice.

"Speak a little louder, please. When was this?"

"Last year--in October."

"He addressed you at that time, did he not, upon the subject of
marriage?"

"He did, several times."

"What was your reply?"

"I refused his advances."

"Why?"

"I did not care for him, in fact, I disliked him."

"You had a strong aversion to him?"

"I had. He seemed to me cruel and unscrupulous."

"Did your father know of this feeling on your part?"

"No. I did not say anything to him about it. He evidently liked Mr.
Ashton, probably because of their common interest in Oriental art. I had
no wish to prejudice him."

"When did you first learn that your father had consented to your
marriage with Mr. Ashton?"

"Shortly after our return to England. He told me that Mr. Ashton had
asked for my hand in marriage, and offered to secure the emerald Buddha
for him as an evidence of his love and sincerity. My father, supposing
that I would have no objections, foolishly consented to the
arrangement."

"But you objected?"

"Violently at first. Later on, when I saw how deeply my father felt
about the matter, and when he told me he had given Mr. Ashton his word
of honor, and that the latter had set out upon a life-and-death quest as
a result of it, I gave an unwilling consent and agreed to write to Mr.
Ashton at Pekin, withdrawing my objections to his suit."

"You wrote this letter?"

"I did."

"When did you first learn that Mr. Ashton had succeeded in his quest?"

"At dinner, the night of his arrival. I had not been alone with him,
since he came but a short time before the dinner hour. He suddenly
rolled the emerald out upon the tablecloth, and looked at me with a
glance of triumph."

"After dinner you had some conversation with Mr. Morgan. What was it?"

"I told Mr. Morgan my story. He was a stranger to me, but I knew his
name and his work, and I had no one upon whom I could rely. I told him I
would never marry Mr. Ashton, that rather than do so I would leave the
house, and earn my own living. I asked him to help me in any way that he
could."

"And he agreed?"