most natural thing
in the world. I should suppose that a man who had lost his mind once
would naturally lose his memory of many things."

"That certainly seems reasonable, but how is it that he does not
recognize it, even if he does not remember the writing of it?"

"I don't know; a man's signature changes with changing habits, I
suppose," responded the witness.

"You don't suppose that any genuine signature of yours could pass under
your eye undetected, do you?" inquired Mr. Balfour.

"No, sir, I don't. I'll be frank with you, sir."

"Well, now, I'm going to test you. Perhaps other men, who have always
been sane, do sometimes forget their own signatures."

Mr. Balfour withdrew from his papers a note. Mr. Belcher saw it in the
distance, and made up his mind that it was the note he had written to
the lawyer before the beginning of the suit. The latter folded over the
signature so that it might be shown to the witness, independent of the
body of the letter, and then he stepped to him holding it in his hand,
and asked him to declare it either a genuine signature or a forgery.

"That's my sign manual, sir."

"You are sure?"

"I know it, sir."

"Very well," said Mr. Balfour, handing the letter to the clerk to be
marked. "You are right, I have no doubt, and I believe this is all I
want of you, for the present."

"And now, may it please the Court," said Mr. Balfour, "I have some
testimony to present in rebuttal of that of the defendant. I propose,
practically, to finish up this case with it, and to show that the story
to which you have listened is false in every particular.

"First, I wish to present the testimony of Dr. Charles Barhydt." At the
pronunciation of his name, the man in spectacles arose, and advanced to
the witness-stand.

"What is your name?" inquired Mr. Balfour.

"Charles Barhydt."

"What is your profession?"

"I am a physician."

"You have an official position, I believe."

"Yes, sir; I have for fifteen years been the superintendent of the State
Asylum for the insane."

"Do you recognize the plaintiff in this case, as a former patient in the
asylum?"

"I do, sir."

"Was he ever visited by the defendant while in your care?"

"He was, sir."

"Did the defendant endeavor to procure his signature to any document
while he was in the asylum?"

"He did, sir."

"Did he apply to you for permission to get this signature, and did he
importunately urge you to give him this permission?"