e, "there is a question
concerning identity that comes up at this point, and I beg the privilege
of asking it here."

The judge looked at Mr. Balfour, and the latter said: "Certainly."

"I would like to ask the witness," said Mr. Cavendish, "whether he is
the Paul Benedict who left the city about the time at which he testifies
that he went away, in consequence of his connection with a band of
counterfeiters. Did you, sir, invent their machinery, or did you not?"

"I did not," answered the witness--his face all aflame. The idea that
he could be suspected, or covertly charged, with crime, in the presence
of friends and strangers, was so terrible that the man tottered on his
feet.

Mr. Cavendish gave a significant glance at his client, whose face
bloomed with a brutal smile, and then sat down.

"Is that all?" inquired Mr. Balfour.

"All, for the present," responded Mr. Cavendish, sneeringly, and with
mock courtesy.

"May it please the Court," said Mr. Balfour, "I hope I may be permitted
to say that the tactics of the defendant are worthy of his cause." Then
turning to Mr. Benedict, he said, "I trust the witness will not be
disturbed by the insult that has been gratuitously offered him, and will
tell the history which I have asked him to tell."

Mr. Cavendish had made a mistake. At this insult, and the gratification
which it afforded Mr. Belcher, the inventor's pity died out of him, and
he hardened to his work.

"When I went to Sevenoaks," said he, "I was very poor, as I have always
been since. I visited Mr. Belcher's mill, and saw how great improvements
could be made in his machines and processes; and then I visited him, and
told him what I could do for him. He furnished me with money for my
work, and for securing the patents on my inventions, with the verbal
promise that I should share in such profits as might accrue from their
use. He was the only man who had money; he was the only man who could
use the inventions; and he kept me at work, until he had secured
everything that he wished for. In the meantime, I suffered for the lack
of the necessaries of life, and was fed from day to day, and month to
month, and year to year, on promises. He never rendered me any returns,
declared that the patents were nearly useless to him, and demanded, as a
consideration for the money he had advanced to me, the assignment of all
my patents to him. My only child was born in the midst of my early
trouble, and such were the priva