t since then been seen or
heard of."

With this preamble Mr. Loram proceeded to give a narrative of the
events connected with the disappearance of John Bellingham, which was
substantially identical with that which I had read in the newspapers;
and having laid the actual facts before the jury, he went on to discuss
their probable import.

"Now, what conclusion," he asked, "will this strange, this most
mysterious train of events suggest to an intelligent person who shall
consider it impartially? Here is a man who steps forth from the house
of his cousin or his brother, as the case may be, and forthwith, in the
twinkling of an eye, vanishes from human ken. What is the explanation?
Did he steal forth and, without notice or hint of his intention, take
train to some seaport, thence to embark for some distant land, leaving
his affairs to take care of themselves and his friends to speculate
vainly as to his whereabouts? Is he now hiding abroad, or even at
home, indifferent alike to the safety of his own considerable property
and the peace of mind of his friends? Or is it that death has come
upon him unawares by sickness, by accident, or, more probably, by the
hand of some unknown criminal? Let us consider the probabilities.

"Can he have disappeared by his own deliberate act? Why not? it may be
asked. Men undoubtedly do disappear from time to time, to be
discovered by chance or to reappear voluntarily after intervals of
years and find their names almost forgotten and their places filled by
new-comers. Yes; but there is always some reason for a disappearance
of this kind, even though it be a bad one. Family discords that make
life a weariness; pecuniary difficulties that make life a succession of
anxieties; distaste for particular circumstances and surroundings from
which there seems no escape; inherent restlessness and vagabond
tendencies, and so on.

"Do any of these explanations apply to the present case? No, they do
not. Family discords--at least those capable of producing chronic
misery--appertain exclusively to a married state. But the testator was
a bachelor with no encumbrances whatever. Pecuniary anxieties can be
equally excluded. The testator was in easy, in fact, in affluent
circumstances. His mode of life was apparently agreeable and full of
interest and activity, and he had full liberty of change if he wished.
He had been accustomed to travel, and could do so again without
absconding. He had rea