JUDGE: I must ask you to address the witness in more
respectful terms, such as “Mr.” Durdles.
MR. CROTCH: Very well, my Lord.
WITNESS: _Mister_ Durdles, sir.
MR. CROTCH (_to witness_): I understand you were employed
round about the Cathedral, and that you know all about the crypt?
WITNESS: Yes, sir.
MR. CROTCH: Now, tell me what was the state of the windows
in 1860.
WITNESS: Ay?
MR. CROTCH: I put it to you again. In what state were the
windows of the crypt in 1860?
WITNESS: Do you mean clean or dirty?
MR. CROTCH: I put it to you they were in a very broken
condition?
WITNESS: Yes, sir; always broken.
MR. CROTCH: As a matter of fact, they were not only broken,
weren’t they, but partially boarded up?
WITNESS: Well, I can’t remember, sir.
MR. CROTCH: Can’t remember! You were constantly in the crypt!
WITNESS: Some of ’em.
MR. CROTCH: How many windows are there?
WITNESS: I don’t know.
MR. WALTERS: I don’t suppose the witness is expected to
count windows!
WITNESS: Thank you, sir.
MR. CROTCH: Well, now, Mr. Durdles, I will ask you another
question. As a matter of fact, have you not on many occasions chased
little boys and others out of the crypt?
WITNESS: Yes, and they’ve chased me.
MR. CROTCH: Where did these boys find their way into the
crypt?
WITNESS: Ay?
MR. CROTCH: You don’t know?
WITNESS: No, I don’t.
MR. CROTCH: You swear you don’t know?
WITNESS: Ay, I swear I don’t know.
MR. CROTCH: You have never seen them creeping through the
windows of the crypt?
WITNESS: Might be; when I’ve been sober.
MR. CROTCH: That’ll do. Now, you tell us that you met Mr.
Datchery. Is that so?
WITNESS: Yes.
MR. CROTCH: Have you ever admitted Mr. Datchery to the
Sapsea vault?