'You were represented at the inquest, were you not, by Messrs. Pollard?'
'The gentlemen who are now conducting this prosecution--nominally on behalf of the Crown?' And with this parting shot he resumed his seat.
'My lord, the witness was anxious to explain one of his answers to my learned friend. Would your lordship allow him to do so now?'
The witness instantly took advantage of the permission.
'I wished to say, my lord, that the reason why I went first to see my aunt, instead of going to my sister's, was because she had befriended me when I was young. She furnished the money to start me with in Australia, and I felt it only right, in common gratitude, to come straight and thank her on my return.'
Another revulsion of feeling swept over the court. The effect of Tressamer's last suggestion was obliterated. Lewis was once more in favour.
Pollard had scored. His brother twitched him by the gown from behind as a hint to sit down. But the unfortunate young man must needs try and improve on his lucky shot. He summoned up a very tragic demeanour, and put the fatal question:
'And is there the smallest ground for suggesting that you were near the house or out of your hotel after ten that night?'
The witness showed confusion. Instead of answering in the prompt, decided style he had hitherto shown, he hesitated for some seconds, and then said with visible embarrassment:
Pollard hastily sat down. The rules which govern the production of evidence did not permit Tressamer to put a further question to the witness, but he was skilful enough to do what accomplished the same result. He called across the barristers' table, in a perfectly audible voice:
'Is anyone from the hotel here, Mr. Pollard?'
'Not that I know of,' was the sullen answer.
And now it was the judge's turn, and he proceeded to put to the witness that question which was in the mind of every person in court, but which neither of the counsel had dared to put, each fearing the answer might be unfavourable to himself.
'Tell me, Mr. Lewis, had you any special reasons--don't tell me what your reasons were--but had you any reason apart from what you were told by others for accusing the prisoner of this murder?'
'Did that reason arise in your mind as a consequence of anything which you saw the prisoner do, or which took place in her presence?'