this unique
specimen, Cranston's twitching lips and clinching fists, Allison's
almost apoplectic face at one moment, contrasting oddly with the
infinite consternation with which he contemplated his own probable
connection with the plot the next:--the speaker was a monument of
conceit and "cheek,"--might even be a lunatic, but what--what could be
said of himself? The chief of staff was fuming. Forrest was inwardly
raging, yet by a strong effort maintained, as he had agreed, utter
silence, leaving to his friends their own method of conducting the
affair. One officer alone seemed to be deriving entertainment from the
situation: the judge-advocate had never had a professional treat to
compare with it.

"Before committing ourselves to any promise, Mr. Elmendorf," said he,
most blandly, "you will pardon me if I refer to what seems a trifle weak
link in your chain of evidence. You say the young lady was in the habit
of visiting Mr. Forrest's lodgings. How often have you seen her there?"

"I said she was seen there. I did not keep watch."

"On Mr. Forrest's _lodgings_, no. But how often was she seen there?"

"I am not prepared to state. Once is considered enough, I venture to
say."

"How often did the witness tell _you_ she was there, Mr. Allison?" asked
the judge-advocate, turning, to his consternation, upon that gentleman.

Allison went crimson in an instant. "Well, I paid so little attention.
It was all so frivolous," he stammered.

"Yet he was the witness named by Mr. Elmendorf, I believe,--the only
one; and you had him come to your office and you questioned him there,
did you not?"

"I did, yes, but the impression passed away almost immediately. The man
wasn't worthy of confidence."

"When you hear his story you may think otherwise," said Elmendorf, with
a contemptuous sneer.

"I have heard," said the judge-advocate; "but we'll hear it again.--Send
Starkey's friend in here," he said to the messenger; and presently in
came a hangdog, corner-loafer specimen of the shabby-genteel young man,
supremely impudent on his native heath, but wofully ill at ease now.
"This is your reputable witness, Mr. Elmendorf."

"I protest against indignity to my witnesses or browbeating of any kind.
This is not a court, and he's not on oath."

"Certainly not. He's saved us all the trouble by telling the truth
beforehand.--Now you can tell us how you came to chase the young lady
into that door-way," said the judge-advocate, turning