all prove their
representative to be a villain of the deepest dye. He has acknowledged
his connection with the Detlij Club, an infamous institution which is
the expression of the depravity, the callousness, the cynicism, the
degradation of English Society. He acknowledged also that he was the
owner of this stick, and, in spite of his denial, I shall have little
difficulty in proving to the satisfaction of the Court that the notches
were placed there by his own hand, and that each notch represented was
airily described as a broken heart. When I mention to your worship that
the notches are fifty in number it will give some indication of the
plaintiffs character."

Dr. Haddon had struck the right key-note, and everyone in Court hung
upon his words. The silence was profound, and each listener's eager
attention grew in intensity as he proceeded to detail the peculiar power
of fascination--snake-like, he called it--possessed by the plaintiff.
Without any assistance from turgid rhetoric, or indignant denunciation,
he depicted it in a manner so simple, yet so direct, that his audience
shivered in response. Then, with consummate art, he played upon their
sensibilities by picturing the simple homeliness of Amy Johnson's happy
family circle, on to the fervour of Reg's devotion, the complete
happiness of the young couple up to their disunion under the diabolical
arts of Wyckliffe. Gently, but still with a power that swayed them in
their own despite, he wrung their sympathies from them with a pathetic
recital of Amy's death, showed the blank in the happy home, and roused
them to a pitch of enthusiasm over his client's oath of vengeance.

"I have witnesses from England," he continued, "who will speak to his
dastardly gallantries there. I have girls from all parts of
Australia"--here a constable whispered in his ear. "This constable tells
me, your worship, that he has some difficulty in keeping the witnesses
I have just alluded to under control. They have expressed a unanimous
wish to have an interview with the plaintiff."

The suggestion of Wyckliffe being handed over to the tender mercies of
his Australian victims seemed to tickle the audience and a faint ripple
of laughter went round the crowded Court. Wyck, who had been growing
more and more fidgetty, here held an excited conversation with his
counsel, who rose and said:

"Your worship, my client complains of feeling unwell. May we adjourn?"

"I object to an adjournment," sai