In the story, the character's response was important to the expert - the Court Attorney because whatever they said was most likely going to aid the investigation into the death of Mr. John Wright.
Explanation:
The story is about the investigation into the death of Mr. John Wright.
In those lines (1 through 5 that is), the conversation is between Mrs. Minnie Wright's neighbor Mrs. Lewis who was the first person to see Mr. Wright's body and the Court Attorney who had come to collect evidence against Mrs. Minnie.
At this time, Mrs. Minnie Wright is already in custody. Every word Mrs. Lewis made would either further incriminate the suspect or exonerate her.
