Benedict, which, as it has a direct bearing upon the
case, I beg the privilege of placing in evidence. It was written the
next day after the date of the alleged assignment, and came inclosed
from Benedict's hands to mine."

Mr. Belcher evidently recalled the letter, for he sat limp in his chair,
like a man stunned. A fierce quarrel then arose between the counsel
concerning the admission of the letter. The Judge examined it, and said
that he could see no reason why it should not be admitted. Then Mr.
Balfour read the following note:

"SEVENOAKS, May 5, 1860.

"_Dear Benedict:_--I am glad to know that you are better. Since you
distrust my pledge that I will give you a reasonable share of the
profits on the use of your patents, I will go to your house this
afternoon, with witnesses, and have an independent paper prepared, to be
signed by myself, after the assignment is executed, which will give you
a definite claim upon me for royalty. We will be there at four o'clock.

"Yours, ROBERT BELCHER."

"Mr. Yates," said Mr. Balfour, "have you ever seen this letter before?"

Yates took the letter, looked it over, and then said: "I have, sir. I
found the letter in a drawer of the library-table, in Mr. Belcher's
house at Sevenoaks. I delivered it unopened to the man to whom it was
addressed, leaving him to decide the question as to whether it belonged
to him or the writer. I had no idea of its contents at the time, but
became acquainted with them afterwards, for I was present at the opening
of the letter."

"That is all," said Mr. Balfour.

"So you stole this letter, did you?" inquired Mr. Cavendish.

"I found it while in Mr. Belcher's service, and took it personally to
the man to whom it was addressed, as he apparently had the best right to
it. I am quite willing to return it to the writer, if it is decided that
it belongs to him. I had no selfish end to serve in the affair."

Here the Judge interposed. "The Court," said he, "finds this letter in
the hands of the plaintiff, delivered by a man who at the time was in
the employ of the defendant, and had the contents of the room in his
keeping. The paper has a direct bearing on the case, and the Court will
not go back of the facts stated."

Mr. Cavendish sat down and consulted his client. Mr. Belcher was afraid
of Yates. The witness not only knew too much concerning his original
intentions, but he was a lawyer who, if questioned too closely and
saucily, would certainly ma