Trial.

Another event of this period was the Tichborne trial, but though Burton
was subpoenaed by the claimant, his evidence really assisted the other
side.

"I understand," began his interlocutor, "that you are the Central
African traveller."

"I have been to Africa," modestly replied Burton.

"Weren't you badly wounded?" [253]

"Yes, in the back, running away."

His identity being established, Burton gave his evidence without further
word fence. "When I went out to Brazil," he said, "I took a present from
Lady Tichborne for her son, but being unable to find him, [254] I sent
the present back. When returning from America, I met the claimant, and
I recognise him simply as the man I met. That is all." Burton, like
others, always took it for granted that the claimant obtained most of
his information respecting the Tichbornes from Bogle, the black man, who
had been in the service of the family.

68. Khamoor at the Theatre.

In some unpublished letters of Mrs. Burton, written about this time, we
get additional references to Khamoor, and several of them are amusing.
Says Mrs. Burton in one of them, [255] "Khamoor was charming at the
theatre. I cried at something touching, and she, not knowing why, flung
herself upon my neck and howled. She nearly died with joy on seeing the
clown, and said, 'Oh, isn't this delightful. What a lovely life!' She
was awfully shocked at the women dancing with 'naked legs,' and at all
the rustic swains and girls embracing each other."

In January 1872, the Burtons were at Knowsley, [256] the Earl of
Derby's, whence Mrs. Burton wrote an affectionate letter to Miss
Stisted. She says, [257] "I hope you are taking care of yourself. Good
people are scarce, and I don't want to lose my little pet." Later,
Burton visited Lady Stisted at Edinburgh, and about that time met a Mr.
Lock, who was in need of a trusty emissary to report on some sulphur
mines in Iceland, for which he had a concession. The two came to
terms, and it was decided that Burton should start in May. He spent the
intervening time at Lord Gerard's, [258] and thence Mrs. Burton wrote to
Miss Stisted [259] saying why she did not accompany Burton in his visit
to his relatives. She says, "I hope you all understand that no animosity
keeps me from Edinburgh. I should have been quite pleased to go if
Richard had been willing, but I think he still fancies that Maria (Lady
Stisted) would rather not see me, and I am quite for ea