ugh diamonds of which one of his clients asked him
to take charge pending their transfer to the brokers. I need not burden
you with irrelevant details concerning this transaction. It will suffice
to say that the diamonds, which were of the aggregate value of about
thirty thousand pounds, were delivered to him, and the unopened package
deposited by him in his safe, together with a slip of paper on which he
had written in pencil a memorandum of the circumstances. This was on the
evening of the ninth of March, as I have said. Having deposited the
parcel, Mr. Hornby locked the safe, and shortly afterwards left the
premises and went home, taking the keys with him.

"On the following morning, when he unlocked the safe, he perceived with
astonishment and dismay that the parcel of diamonds had vanished. The
slip of paper, however, lay at the bottom of the safe, and on picking it
up Mr. Hornby perceived that it bore a smear of blood, and in addition,
the distinct impression of a human thumb. On this he closed and locked
the safe and sent a note to the police station, in response to which a
very intelligent officer--Inspector Sanderson--came and made a
preliminary examination. I need not follow the case further, since the
details will appear in the evidence, but I may tell you that, in effect,
it has been made clear, beyond all doubt, that the thumb-print on that
paper was the thumb-print of the prisoner, Reuben Hornby."

He paused to adjust his glasses, which were in the very act of falling
from his nose, and hitch up his gown, while he took a leisurely survey
of the jury, as though he were estimating their impressionability. At
this moment I observed Walter Hornby enter the court and take up a
position at the end of our bench nearest the door; and, immediately
after, Superintendent Miller came in and seated himself on one of the
benches opposite.

"The first witness whom I shall call," said Sir Hector Trumpler, "is
John Hornby."

Mr. Hornby, looking wild and agitated, stepped into the witness-box, and
the usher, having handed him the Testament, sang out--

"The evidence you shall give to the court and jury sworn, between our
Sovereign Lord the King and the prisoner at the bar shall be the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; so help you God!"

Mr. Hornby kissed the Book, and, casting a glance of unutterable misery
at his nephew, turned towards the counsel.

"Your name is John Hornby, is it not?" asked Sir H