"

"I cannot tell much," replied Mr. Benedict. "I know the inventions were
largely profitable to him; otherwise he would not have been so anxious
to own them. I have never had access to his books, but I know he became
rapidly rich on his manufactures, and that, by the cheapness with which
he produced them, he was able to hold the market, and to force his
competitors into bankruptcy."

"May it please the Court," said Mr. Balfour, "I am about done with this
witness, and I wish to say, just here, that if the defendant stands by
his pleadings, and denies his profits, I shall demand the production of
his books in Court. We can get definite information from them, at
least." Then bowing to Mr. Benedict, he told him that he had no further
questions to ask.

The witness was about to step down, when the Judge turned to Mr.
Cavendish, with the question: "Does the counsel for the defendant wish
to cross-examine the witness?"

"May it please the Court," said Mr. Cavendish rising, "the counsel for
the defense regards the examination so far simply as a farce. We do not
admit that the witness is Paul Benedict, at all--or, rather, the Paul
Benedict named in the patents, certified copies of which are in
evidence. The Paul Benedict therein named, has long been regarded as
dead. This man has come and gone for months in Sevenoaks, among the
neighbors of the real Paul Benedict, unrecognized. He says he has lived
for years within forty miles of Sevenoaks, and at this late day puts
forward his claims. There is nobody in Court, sir. We believe the
plaintiff to be a fraud, and this prosecution a put-up job. In saying
this, I would by no means impugn the honor of the plaintiff's counsel.
Wiser men than he have been deceived and duped, and he may be assured
that he is the victim of the villainies or the hallucinations of an
impostor. There are men in this room, ready to testify in this case, who
knew Paul Benedict during all his residence in Sevenoaks; and the
witness stands before them at this moment unrecognized and unknown. I
cannot cross-examine the witness, without recognizing his identity with
the Paul Benedict named in the patents. There is nothing but a pretender
in Court, may it please your honor, and I decline to have anything to do
with him."

Mr. Cavendish sat down, with the air of a man who believed he had
blasted the case in the bud, and that there was nothing left to do but
to adjourn.

"It seems to the Court, gentlemen," sa