ot the least doubt as to the prisoner's identity. Pressed in
cross-examination, he certainly threw some suspicion on the
trustworthiness of his assertions. "You positively swear that these two
articles were pledged by the prisoner, and at the same time!" asked the
cross-examiner. "Well," was the impatient reply, "there's the same date
and name, and both in my writing." But even thus much of doubt he
speedily retracted, and his evidence could not be practically
undermined.

Harriet's examination was long and searching, but she bore it without
the slightest damage to her credit. Plain, straightforward, and
stubborn were all her replies and assertions; she did not contradict
herself once. Waymark marvelled at her appearance and manner. The venom
of malice had acted upon her as a tonic, strengthening her intellect,
and bracing her nerves. Once she looked directly into Ida's face and
smiled.

Mrs. Sprowl had been summoned, and appeared in all the magnificence of
accumulated rings, bracelets, necklaces, and watch-chains. Helter hoped
to make good use of her.

"Did you on a certain occasion go to the person in whose employ the
prisoner was, and, by means of certain representations with regard to
the prisoner's antecedents, become the cause of her dismissal?"

"I did. I told all I knew about her, and I consider I'd a right to do
so."

Mrs. Sprowl was not to be robbed of her self-assurance by any array of
judicial dignity.

"What led you to do this?"

"A good enough one, I think. She'd been imposed on Mr. Casti and his
wife as a respectable character, and she was causing trouble between
them. She had to be got rid of somehow, and this was one step to it."

"Was Mrs. Casti aware of your intention to take this step?"

"No, she wasn't."

"But you told her when you had done it?"

"Yes, I did."

The frankness of all this had its effect, of course. The case was
attracting much interest in court, and the public seats were quite
full. Mrs. Sprowl looked round in evident enjoyment of her position.
There was a slight pause, and then the examination continued.

"Of what nature was the trouble you speak of, caused by the prisoner
between this lady and her husband?"

"Mr. Casti began to pay a good deal too much attention to her."

There was a sound of whispers and a murmuring.

"Did Mrs. Casti impart to you her suspicions of the prisoner as soon as
she missed the first of these articles alleged to be stolen?"

"Yes, sh