ld it have weight enough to cause the
arrest of the young duke?

"Eh, sirs! what an awfu' event the like o' that wad be!" whispered one
gray-haired clansman to another.

And all bent eager ears to hear the remainder of the testimony which was
still going on.

After relating the history of her journey to London, with the stolen
treasure in charge, she proceeded to tell of the abrupt flight of "the
duke," with the bulk of the treasure in his possession, and of her own
subsequent arrest with the stolen jewels found in her apartments.

She was cross-examined by the defence, but without effect.

Her testimony, if it could be established, would ruin the Duke of
Hereward, but could in no way affect the prisoner at the bar.

When the prosecution perceived this, they realized that they had been, in
common parlance, "sold."

They were to be sold again.

"You may stand down," said Mr. Keir, sharply.

"Na, I hanna dune yet. I hae mair to say," persisted the witness.

"Say it, then."

"I ken it is nae lawfu' for a wife to gie testimony against her ain
husband," said Rose Cameron, with a cunning leer that marred the beauty
of her fine blue eyes.

"Certainly not. What has that to do with this case?"

"It hae a' things to do with it."

"Explain yourself, witness; and remember that you are on your oath."

"Ay, I weel ken the solemnity of an aith. And I hae telt the truth under
aith; nathless, maybe my teestimony suld na be received."

"Why not?"

"Why no'? Why, gin a wife maunna teestify agin her ain husband, I suld na
hae teestified agin the Duk' o' Harewood, who is my ain lawfu' husband!"
said Rose Cameron, purposely raising her voice to a clear, ringing tone
that was distinctly heard all over the court-room.

Had a shell fallen and exploded in their midst, it could scarcely have
caused greater consternation.

"What said the lass?" questioned many.

"I dinna just ken," answered many others.

They certainly did not believe the report of their own ears on this
occasion.

As for the Duke of Hereward, who was then engaged in writing a few lines
on the fly-leaf of his note-book, he just looked up for a moment and was
surprised into the first smile that had lighted his grave face since the
opening of the trial.

The cool counsel who was conducting the examination of the witness,
and whom nothing on earth could throw off his track, now proceeded to
inquire:

"Witness! Do we understand you to say that you are t