e owner of the patents in question, in
this case, and the inventor of the machines, implements and processes
which they cover, do you?" said Mr. Cavendish.

"I object to the form of the question," said Mr. Balfour. "It is an
insult to the witness, and a reflection upon the gentleman's own
sincerity, in accepting the identity of the plaintiff."

"Very well," said Mr. Cavendish, "since the plaintiff's counsel is so
difficult to please! You are the owner of these patents, are you?"

"I am, sir."

"You have been insane, have you sir?"

"I suppose I have been, sir. I was very ill for a long time, and have no
doubt that I suffered from mental alienation."

"What is your memory of things that occurred immediately preceding your
insanity?"

Mr. Benedict and his counsel saw the bearings of this question, at once,
but the witness would no more have lied than he would have stolen, or
committed murder. So he answered: "It is very much confused, sir."

"Oh, it is! I thought so! Then you cannot swear to the events
immediately preceding your attack?"

"I am afraid I cannot, sir, at least, not in their order or detail."

"No! I thought so!" said Mr. Cavendish, in his contemptuous manner, and
rasping voice. "I commend your prudence. Now, witness, if a number of
your neighbors should assure you that, on the day before your attack,
you did a certain thing, which you do not remember to have done, how
should you regard their testimony?"

"If they were credible people, and not unfriendly to me, I should be
compelled to believe them."

"Why, sir! you are an admirable witness! I did not anticipate such
candor. We are getting at the matter bravely. We have your confession,
then, that you do not remember distinctly the events that occurred the
day before your attack, and your assertion that you are ready to believe
and accept the testimony of credible witnesses in regard to those
events."

"Yes, sir."

"Did you ever know Nicholas Johnson and James Ramsey?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where did you see them last?"

"In Mr. Belcher's library."

"On what occasion, or, rather, at what time?"

"I have sad reason to remember both the occasion and the date, sir. Mr.
Belcher had determined to get my signature to an assignment, and had
brought me to his house on another pretext entirely. I suppose he had
summoned these men as witnesses."

"Where are these men now?"

"Unhappily, they are both dead."

"Yes, unhappily indeed--unhappily for