?" sharply interrupted Mr. Rubiny,
perceiving that the witness was done with.

"Let's see!" responded Mr. Ebenezer. "I can't be sure as to a year
without reckoning up. A dozen, if not more."

"And you mean to say that you can swear to Sir Francis Levison being
that man, with all these years intervening?"

"I swear that he is the man. I am as positive of his identity as I am of
my own."

"Without having seen him from that time to this?" derisively returned
the lawyer. "Nonsense, witness."

"I did not say that," returned Mr. Ebenezer.

The court pricked up its ears. "Have you seen him between then and now?"
asked one of them.

"Once."

"Where and when?"

"It was in London, about eighteen months after the period of the trial!"

"What communication had you with him?"

"None at all. I only saw him--quite by chance."

"And whom did you suppose him to be then--Thorn or Levison?"

"Thorn, certainly. I never dreamt of his being Levison until he appeared
here, now, to oppose Mr. Carlyle."

A wild, savage curse shot through Sir Francis's heart as he heard the
words. What demon had possessed him to venture his neck into the lion's
den? There had been a strong hidden power holding him back from it,
independent of his dislike to face Mr. Carlyle; how could he be so mad
as to disregard it? How? Could a man go from his doom? Can any?

"You may have been mistaken, witness, as to the identity of the man you
saw in London. It may not have been the Thorn you had known here."

Mr. Ebenezer James smiled a peculiar smile. "I was not mistaken," he
said, his tone sounding remarkably significant. "I am upon my oath."

"Call Aphrodite Hallijohn."

The lady appeared, supported by her friend, the policeman. And Mr.
Ebenezer James was desired by Mr. Ball to leave the court while she gave
her evidence. Doubtless he had his reasons.

"What is your name?"

"Afy," replied she, looking daggers at everybody, and sedulously keeping
her back turned upon Francis Levison and Otway Bethel.

"You name in full, if you please. You were not christened 'Afy'?"

"Aphrodite Hallijohn. You all know my name as well as I do. Where's the
use of asking useless questions?"

"Swear the witness," spoke up Mr. Justice Hare. The first word he had
uttered.

"I won't be sworn," said Afy.

"You must be sworn," said Mr. Justice Herbert.

"But I say I won't," repeated Afy.

"Then we must commit you to prison for contempt of court."

There was no