s; they strained their eyesight: and, amidst all the noisy
hum, the groan bursting from the lips of Justice Hare was unnoticed.
Whilst order was being called for, and the judge threatened to clear
the court, two officers moved themselves quietly up and stood behind the
witness. Richard Hare was in custody, though he might know it not. The
witness was sworn.

"What is your name?"

"Richard Hare."

"Son of Mr. Justice Hare, I believe, of the Grove, West Lynne?"

"His only son."

"The same against whom a verdict of wilful murder is out?" interposed
the judge.

"The same, my lord," replied Richard Hare, who appeared, strange as it
may seem, to have cast away all his old fearfulness.

"Then, witness, let me warn you that you are not obliged to answer any
question that may tend to criminate yourself."

"My lord," answered Richard Hare, with some emotion, "I wish to answer
any and every question put to me. I have but one hope, that the full
truth of all pertaining to that fatal evening may be made manifest this
day."

"Look round at the prisoner," said the examining counsel. "Do you know
him?"

"I know him now as Sir Francis Levison. Up to April last I believed his
name to be Thorn."

"State what occurred on the evening of the murder, as far as your
knowledge goes."

"I had an appointment that evening with Afy Hallijohn, and went down to
their cottage to keep it--"

"A moment," interrupted the counsel. "Was your visit that evening made
in secret?"

"Partially so. My father and mother were displeased, naturally, at my
intimacy with Afy Hallijohn; therefore I did not care that they should
be cognizant of my visits there. I am ashamed to confess that I told my
father a lie over it that very evening. He saw me leave the dinner-table
to go out with my gun, and inquired where I was off to. I answered that
I was going out with young Beauchamp."

"When, in point of fact, you were not?"

"No. I took my gun, for I had promised to lend it to Hallijohn while his
own was being repaired. When I reached the cottage Afy refused to admit
me; she was busy, and could not, she said. I felt sure she had got Thorn
with her. She had, more than once before, refused to admit me when I
had gone there by her own appointment, and I always found that Thorn's
presence in the cottage was the obstacle."

"I suppose you and Thorn were jealous of each other?"

"I was jealous of him; I freely admit it. I don't know whether he was of
me