till, he did cross-examine some of the witnesses, and it was evident
by the look in the judge's eyes that he appreciated the cleverness of
the cross-examination. Indeed, so successful was Paul that on more
than one occasion he made this keen-minded lawyer--more lawyer, indeed,
than man--realise that circumstantial evidence might be false, and that
a jury would assume tremendous responsibility in passing judgment of
death upon anyone upon such evidence. Especially was this true in the
case of the examination of the murdered man's father. He, as on the
opening day of the first trial, was the most important witness, and
after Mr. Bakewell had elicited from him practically the same
admissions as had been given on the previous occasion, Paul rose to
cross-examine him.

"Mr. Wilson," he said, "you have stated more than once that beside
myself your son had no other enemy. Do you still adhere to this?"

"Certainly."

"Do you mean to say that during his life he has never gained the
ill-will or the enmity of anyone besides me?"

"Not that I know of."

"You insist on this?"

"Yes. That is, no enmity of importance."

"What do you mean by importance?"

"I mean any enmity that would lead anyone to murder him."

"I want to ask you further questions about this. One of the witnesses
who gave evidence concerning the quarrel between your son and myself on
the night prior to his death is called Scott, is he not?"

"Yes."

"John Scott?"

"Yes."

"John had a son called Nick; is that not so?"

"Yes."

"Some three years ago he had a quarrel with your son?"

"Yes."

"It ended in Nick Scott being sent to prison. Is that true?"

"It is true that Nick Scott was sent to prison, but it had nothing
whatever to do with his quarrel with my son. That was about a very
trivial affair."

"But did not Nick Scott say that he'd pay your son out if he had to
swing for it?"

"There was some such rumour, I believe. I paid no attention to it."

"I am taking this line, my lord," continued Paul, "because of the
witness's evidence. He says that his son had no enemy in Brunford. I
am going to prove to you that he had."

The judge nodded, while Paul again turned to the witness.

"You still adhere to the fact, then, do you, that your son had no enemy
beside myself?"

"I did not think of Scott, because he was not in the country; besides,
it was of no importance. Men often utter threats like that."

"It pains me to bring up