The hand of the judge gently stroked his upper lip. He said: "At the moment I'm not prepared to give an opinion."
Anthony Marston broke in. He said: "Look here, there's one thing you've forgotten.
Who the devil turned the thing on and set it going?"
Wargrave murmured:
"Yes, I think we must inquire into that."
He led the way back into the drawing-room.
The others followed.
Rogers had just come in with a glass of brandy.
Miss Brent was bending over the moaning form of Mrs. Rogers.
Adroitly Rogers slipped between the two women.
"Allow me, Madam, I'll speak to her.
Ethel - Ethel - it's all right.
All right, do you hear?
Pull yourself together."
Mrs. Rogers' breath came in quick gasps.
Her eyes, staring frightened eyes, went round and round the ring of faces.
There was urgency in Rogers' tone. "Pull yourself together, Ethel."
Dr. Armstrong spoke to her soothingly. "You'll be all right now, Mrs. Rogers.
Just a nasty turn."
She said: "Did I faint, sir?"
"Yes."
"It was The Voice - that awful voice - like a judgement -"
Her face turned green again, her eyelids fluttered.
Dr. Armstrong said sharply: "Where's that brandy?"
Rogers had put it down on a little table.
Some one handed it to the doctor and he bent over the gasping woman with it.
"Drink this, Mrs. Rogers."
She drank, choking a little and gasping.
The spirit did her good. The colour returned to her face.
She said: "I'm all right now.
It just - gave me a turn."
Rogers said quickly: "Of course it did.
It gave me a turn too. Fair made me drop that tray.
Wicked lies, it was!
I'd like to know -"
He was interrupted.
It was only a cough - a dry little cough but it had the effect of stopping him in full cry.
He stared at Mr. Justice Wargrave and the latter coughed again.
Then he said: "Who put that record on the gramophone?
Was it you, Rogers?"
Rogers cried: "I didn't know what it was.
Before God, I didn't know what it was, sir.
If I had I'd never have done it."
The judge said drily: "That is probably true. But I think you'd better explain, Rogers."
The butler wiped his face with a handkerchief.
He said earnestly: "I was just obeying orders, sir, that's all."
"Whose orders?"
"Mr. Owen's."
Mr. Justice Wargrave said:
"Let me get this quite clear.