together understand what had happened. But
she saw that the man who had put the case against her so mildly had
now gone out of it altogether, and her heart gave a great beat of joy
for the first time since she had parted with George Tressamer two days
before the memorable first of June.

CHAPTER VI.

THE WITNESSES.

'John Lewis!'

A dark, big man stepped into the box, frowning heavily around him. The
oath was administered, and then Mr. Pollard commenced in the approved
style.

'Your name is John Lewis, and you are now living at The Shrubbery,
Porthstone?'

'Yes.'

'That's where the murder was committed?' interrupted the judge.

'Yes, my lord. The witness inherited it under Miss Lewis's will.'

The Judge: 'Have you lived there ever since?'

Witness: 'Yes, my lord.'

The Judge (after a pause, during which Mr. Pollard waits impatiently):
'Go on, Mr. Pollard. What are you keeping us for?'

Mr. Pollard: 'I beg your lordship's pardon.' To witness: 'You are the
nephew of the deceased, and have just returned from Australia?'

'Yes; I came back to my aunt.'

'After making some money out there, I believe?'

_'I object!'_

This interruption, it need not be said, came from Tressamer. He had
risen to his feet, and put on that scowl of scornful indignation with
which an experienced counsel knows how to daunt a young beginner and
make him feel he has committed himself.

'My lord, my friend cannot prove that, and if he could it cannot
possibly be evidence against the prisoner. It is a most improper
question.'

The Judge looked a little puzzled.

'It is irrelevant,' he said, 'and I won't allow it if you object. In a
case like this we can't be too strict, of course.'

Mr. Pollard began to realize that greatness has its snares as well as
its triumphs. He tried to get back on to the track.

'You went to see the deceased on the first of June?'

'I did.'

'And you came away----'

Here the barrister's brother leant over and handed him a slip of
paper. He took it and read it, turned red, and, trying to appear as
if he had not been prompted, put the question contained in the slip
of paper:

'Was anything said about the jewels?'

The judge stared. Tressamer started to his feet in a transport of
fury.

'My lord, my friend is deliberately leading the witness. In a case of
murder it is disgraceful!'

'I agree with you, Mr. Tressamer. Don't answer that question, sir.'

Thus the judge. Poor young Poll