ery could have been made. The accidental S-shaped mark in
the 'Thumbograph' print is accounted for by the condition of the paper;
the occurrence of this mark in the red thumb-print is not accounted for
by any peculiarity of the paper, and can be accounted for in no way,
excepting by assuming the one to be a copy of the other. The conclusion
is thus inevitable that the red thumb-print is a photo-mechanical
reproduction of the 'Thumbograph' print.

"But there is yet another point. If the red thumb-print is a forgery
reproduced from the 'Thumbograph' print, the forger must at some time
have had access to the 'Thumbograph.' Now, you have heard Mrs. Hornby's
remarkable story of the mysterious disappearance of the 'Thumbograph'
and its still more mysterious reappearance. That story can have left no
doubt in your minds that some person had surreptitiously removed the
'Thumbograph' and, after an unknown interval, secretly replaced it. Thus
the theory of forgery receives confirmation at every point, and is in
agreement with every known fact; whereas the theory that the red
thumb-print was a genuine thumb-print, is based upon a gratuitous
assumption, and has not had a single fact advanced in its support.

"Accordingly, gentlemen, I assert that the prisoner's innocence has been
proved in the most complete and convincing manner, and I ask you for a
verdict in accordance with that proof."

As Anstey resumed his seat, a low rumble of applause was heard from the
gallery. It subsided instantly on a gesture of disapproval from the
judge, and a silence fell upon the court, in which the clock, with
cynical indifference, continued to record in its brusque monotone the
passage of the fleeting seconds.

"He is saved, Dr. Jervis! Oh! surely he is saved!" Juliet exclaimed in
an agitated whisper. "They must see that he is innocent now."

"Have patience a little longer," I answered. "It will soon be over now."

Sir Hector Trumpler was already on his feet and, after bestowing on the
jury a stern hypnotic stare, he plunged into his reply with a really
admirable air of conviction and sincerity. "My lord and gentlemen of
the jury: The case which is now before this Court is one, as I have
already remarked, in which human nature is presented in a highly
unfavourable light. But I need not insist upon this aspect of the case,
which will already, no doubt, have impressed you sufficiently. It is
necessary merely for me, as my learned friend has aptl