d my ears. That cry in the dead of night was
sufficiently alarming, and I ran out at once to see what might have
occasioned it. I found Count Samoval either just dead or just dying, and
I had scarcely made the discovery when Mullins, the butler, came out of
the residential wing, as he has testified.

"That, sirs, is all that I know of the death of Count Samoval, and I
will conclude with my solemn affirmation, on my honour as a soldier,
that I am as innocent of having procured it as I am ignorant of how it
came about.

"I leave myself with confidence in your hands, gentlemen," he ended, and
resumed his seat.

That he had favourably impressed the court was clear. Miss Armytage
whispered it to Lady O'Moy, exultation quivering in her whisper.

"He is safe!" And she added: "He was magnificent."

Lady O'Moy pressed her hand in return. "Thank God! Oh, thank God!" she
murmured under her breath.

"I do," said Miss Armytage.

There was silence, broken only by the rustle of the president's notes
as he briefly looked them over as a preliminary to addressing the court.
And then suddenly, grating harshly upon that silence, came the voice of
O'Moy.

"Might I suggest, Sir Harry, that before we hear you three of the
witnesses be recalled? They are Sergeant Flynn, Private Bates and
Mullins."

The president looked round in surprise, and Carruthers took advantage of
the pause to interpose an objection.

"Is such a course regular, Sir Harry?" He too had become conscious at
last of Sir Terence's relentless hostility to the accused. "The court
has been given an opportunity of examining those witnesses, the accused
has declined to call any on his own behalf, and the prosecution has
already closed its case."

Sir Harry considered a moment. He had never been very clear upon matters
of procedure, which he looked upon as none of a soldier's real business.
Instinctively in this difficulty he looked at Lord Wellington as if
for guidance; but his lordship's face told him absolutely nothing, the
Commander-in-Chief remaining an impassive spectator. Then, whilst the
president coughed and pondered, Major Swan came to the rescue.

"The court," said the judge-advocate, "is entitled at any time before
the finding to call or recall any witnesses, provided that the prisoner
is afforded an opportunity of answering anything further that may be
elicited in re-examination of these witnesses."

"That is the rule," said Sir Terence, "and rightly so