human
Tell us what's happened? inquired Laking, eagerly.
gpt
Who's done this?
human
Jane went to pull down the blinds about three-quarters of an hour ago, and I heard the mistress playing the piano in here. Then she suddenly stopped, but knowing that Jane was here I thought she was talking to her. Then I didn't think any more about it till I found that the hot water hadn't been put in the mistress's bedroom, and that the blinds were still up. I went down to the kitchen, but cook said that Jane was still with the mistress. I said she'd been there a long time, and cook said perhaps she was getting a blowing up. It was 'er night out last night, and she was a half-hour late, and Mrs Parham is very particular, as you know.
gpt
And didn't you hear anything?
human
Not a sound. It was the quietness of the place that first aroused my suspicion, said the girl.
gpt
I crept along the hall and listened at the door to hear what the mistress was saying to Jane. But there was no sound. Then I went back and told cook, and we thought that they'd both gone upstairs perhaps. Presently I went back and tapped at the door, for it was nearly an hour since Jane had gone into the room. Nobody answered, so I pushed the door open, and there, to my horror, saw 'em both lying on the floor with these black things round their faces.
human
And you rushed out and gave the alarm?
gpt
I called in Lane, who'd just finished work and was going home. Then we hailed a telegraph boy who was passing and sent him for the doctor and the police. At first we thought the poor mistress was dead, but, you see, she's still breathing, although very slightly. Look! she added, holding up the scarf,
human
Chloroform! declared the gardener, Lane.
gpt
I 'ad it when I 'ad my operation in the 'orspital. I know that smell well enough.
human
But what was the motive?