ptain Mansel have made a mistake
-perhaps only of one figure--in the number they saw. And, unless we can
discredit that fellow's story, call evidence to show he _was_ out on
that day, or something, I'm very much afraid we shall go down. His
counsel Is certain to ask for the benefit of the doubt, and they'll give
it him."

I never remember feeling so disappointed.

I think we all felt the weight of his words, but our collapse was
pitiful. Lured by a treacherous hope into the belief that we were saved,
we were fallen into a deeper Slough of Despond than before. Jill was
hard put to it to restrain her tears....

Listlessly we followed our advisers into Court, and a moment later the
Judge took his seat.

One or two applications, which did not concern our case, were made. Then
leading counsel for the defence rose to his feet and called his next
witness--

"Walter Dale."

At the sound of the name I started violently. Then, open-mouthed and
trembling with excitement, I twisted myself round to get a glimpse of
the witness as he approached the box. Could it be possible that Fate
with fiendish irony had selected the ex-trooper whom we had befriended
to administer to our case the _coup de grace_? It must be a man of
another name. But Dale _was_ a chauffeur....

There was a stir at the back of the crowded Court. Somebody was pushing
his way forward. Somebody....

It _was_ Dale.

The short, stockily-built figure, that I had not seen for more than
three years, stepped out of the ruck of onlookers and took its place in
the witness-box.

"Take the Book in your right hand...."

It was the Associate's voice. As in a dream I heard the oath
administered.

"The truth.... The whole truth.... And nothing but the truth."

Dale's lips moved and he kissed the Testament.

He was very pale. As he laid the Book down, our eyes met, and he looked
me full in the face. My heart began to thump violently.

"Your name is Walter Dale?" said counsel.

"Yes"--in a low voice.

"Speak up, please, so that his lordship and the Jury may hear. You are a
chauffeur in the employ of the defendant?"

"Yes."

"Do you remember the twenty-second of May?"

"Yes, sir."

"Now, I want you to tell the Court in your own words exactly what you
did that day. First of all, on that day did your master's car leave the
garage?"

"Yes, it did."

The Court gasped. Jurymen, counsel, officials, reporters--every one sat
up as if they had been shot. Even