of mind unfitted you to
discriminate? Were you not so anxious to find your brother, in order to
quiet your conscience, that you were easily imposed upon."

"No, sir, to both questions."

"Well, madam, such things have happened. Have you been in the habit of
receiving Mr. Belcher at your house?"

"I have."

"You have been in the habit of receiving gentlemen rather
indiscriminately at your house, haven't you?"

"I object to the question," said Mr. Balfour quickly. "It carries a
covert insult to the witness."

Mrs. Dillingham bowed to Mr. Balfour in acknowledgment of his courtesy,
but answered the question. "I have received you, sir, and Mr. Belcher. I
may have been indiscriminate in my courtesies. A lady living alone
cannot always tell."

A titter ran around the court-room, in which Mr. Belcher joined. His
admiration was too much at the moment for his self-interest.

"Did you know before you went to Number Nine, that your brother was
there?" inquired Mr. Cavendish.

"I did, and the last time but one at which Mr. Belcher called upon me I
informed him of the fact."

"That your brother was there?"

"No, that Paul Benedict was there."

"How did you know he was there?"

"His little boy wrote me from there, and told me so."

Mr. Cavendish had found more than he sought. He want' ed to harass the
witness, but he had been withheld by his client. Baffled on one hand and
restrained on the other--for Mr. Belcher could not give her up, and
learn to hate her in a moment--he told the witness he had no more
questions to ask.

Mrs. Dillingham drew down her veil again, and walked to her seat.

Harry Benedict was next called, and after giving satisfactory answers to
questions concerning his understanding of the nature of an oath, was
permitted to testify.

"Harry," said Mr. Balfour, "were you ever in Mr. Belcher's house?"

"Yes, sir."

"Tell us how it happened that you were there."

"Mr. Belcher stopped me in the street, and led me up the steps, and then
up stairs into his room."

"What question did he ask you?"

"He wanted to know whether my father was alive."

"Did he offer you money if you would tell?"

"Yes, sir; he offered me a great gold piece of money, and told me it was
an eagle."

"Did you take it?"

"No, sir."

"Did he threaten you?"

"He tried to scare me, sir."

"Did he tell you that he should like to give your father some money?"

"Yes, sir."

"And did you tell him that your father w