"I will now call upon the accused to make his defence and examine any witnesses he thinks fit," said the president.
Mr. Vayne at once stood up, and, adjusting his pinc-nez, addressed the tribunal.
"I think it only right to inform the court that my client is not quite the nameless adventurer the prosecutor would have you believe," he said in a loud, sonorous voice. "It is true that he is known in these parts as Captain Calamity, and it is equally true that his name is John Brighouse. But he is also Viscount Redhurst of Redhurst--a fact which I mention, gentlemen, because I assume that, when we come to deal with conflicting statements, you will grant that the word of an English peer is at least equal to that of a semi-Asiatic ship-chandler."
Mr. Vayne paused for a moment or two after this _dénouement_, in order to let the full significance of his statement sink into the minds of his opponents. He had taken their measure pretty accurately, and calculated upon the effect which his words would produce.
"With the permission of the court," he went on, "I will recall the prosecutor and put a few questions to him."
At a gesture from the president, Mr. Solomon stepped forward. The air of conscious rectitude which had distinguished him when giving evidence against Calamity was not now so apparent.
"I understand," said the lawyer, focussing his pinc-nez upon the ship-chandler, "that it was you, and not Rossenbaum, who informed the authorities that my client had illegally appropriated the steamer, _Arrow_?"
"How soon, after you had discovered that the _Arrow_ was missing, did you inform the authorities of the fact?"
"About three veeks," answered the witness reluctantly.
"You mean that three weeks elapsed before the authorities were made aware of what had taken place?"
"Then do you wish the court to believe that if a man stole your watch and chain, or broke into your office, you would wait three weeks before informing the police?"
"I believe you. Now," added the lawyer with sudden vehemence, "I put it to you, sir, that your reason for waiting such a long time was that the accused might get safely away before the authorities had a chance to capture him."
"It vas not!" cried Mr. Solomon hotly. "Vy should I not wish him to be captured?"