hat same
Mr. Camperdown whom we saw in the last chapter calling upon Lady
Eustace,--and a policeman. Lord Fawn had been invited to attend, with
many protestations of regret as to the trouble thus imposed upon him,
because the very important nature of the evidence about to be given
by him at the forthcoming trial seemed to render it expedient that
some questions should be asked. This was on Tuesday, the 22nd June,
and the trial was to be commenced on the following Thursday. And
there was present in the room, very conspicuously, an old heavy grey
great coat, as to which Mr. Wickerby had instructed Mr. Chaffanbrass
that evidence was forthcoming, if needed, to prove that that coat was
lying on the night of the murder in a downstairs room in the house in
which Yosef Mealyus was then lodging. The reader will remember the
history of the coat. Instigated by Madame Goesler, who was still
absent from England, Mr. Wickerby had traced the coat, and had
purchased the coat, and was in a position to prove that this very
coat was the coat which Mr. Meager had brought home with him to
Northumberland Street on that day. But Mr. Wickerby was of opinion
that the coat had better not be used. "It does not go far enough,"
said Mr. Wickerby. "It don't go very far, certainly," said Mr.
Chaffanbrass. "And if you try to show that another man has done it,
and he hasn't," said Mr. Wickerby, "it always tells against you with
a jury." To this Mr. Chaffanbrass made no reply, preferring to form
his own opinion, and to keep it to himself when formed. But in
obedience to his instructions, Lord Fawn was asked to attend at Mr.
Wickerby's chambers, in the cause of truth, and the coat was brought
out on the occasion. "Was that the sort of coat the man wore, my
lord?" said Mr. Chaffanbrass as Mr. Wickerby held up the coat to
view. Lord Fawn walked round and round the coat, and looked at it
very carefully before he would vouchsafe a reply. "You see it is a
grey coat," said Mr. Chaffanbrass, not speaking at all in the tone
which Mr. Wickerby's note had induced Lord Fawn to expect.

"It is grey," said Lord Fawn.

"Perhaps it's not the same shade of grey, Lord Fawn. You see, my
lord, we are most anxious not to impute guilt where guilt doesn't
lie. You are a witness for the Crown, and, of course, you will tell
the Crown lawyers all that passes here. Were it possible, we would
make this little preliminary inquiry in their presence;--but we can
hardly do that. Mr