The Reminiscences of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton) eBook

Henry Hawkins, 1st Baron Brampton
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 389 pages of information about The Reminiscences of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton).

The Reminiscences of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton) eBook

Henry Hawkins, 1st Baron Brampton
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 389 pages of information about The Reminiscences of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton).

“How do you know Roger had no tattoo marks?” asked Mr. Hawkins.

“I saw his arms on three occasions.”  This was a serious answer for Bogle.

“When and where, and under what circumstances?” followed in quick succession, so that there was no escape.  The witness said that Roger had on a pair of black trousers tied round the waist, and his shirt buttoned up.

“The sleeves, how were they?”

“Loose.”

“How came you to see his naked arms?”

“He was rubbing one of them like this.”

“What did he rub for?”

“I thought he’d got a flea.”

“Did you see it?”

“No, of course.”

“Where was it?”

“Just there.”

“What time was this?”

“Ten minutes past eleven.”

“That’s the first occasion; come to the second.”

“Just the same,” says Bogle.

“Same time?”

“Yes.”

“Did he always put his hand inside his sleeve to rub?”

“I don’t know.”

“But I want to know.”

“If your shirt was unbuttoned, Mr. Hawkins, and you was rubbin’ your arm, you would draw up your sleeve—­”

“Never mind what I should do; I want to know what you saw.”

“The same as before,” answers Bogle angrily.

“A flea?”

“I suppose.”

“But did you see him, Bogle?”

“I told you, Mr. Hawkins, I did not.”

“Excuse me, that was on the first occasion.”

“Well, this was the same.”

“Same flea?”

“I suppose.”

“Same time—­ten minutes past eleven?”

“Yes.”

“Then all I can say is, he must have been a very punctual old flea.”

Exit Bogle, and with him his evidence.

After the trial had been proceeding for some time, Baigent was giving evidence of the family pedigree.

Honeyman whispered, “We might as well have the first chapter of Genesis and read that.”

“Genesis!” said Hawkins; “I want to get to the last chapter of Revelation.”

One day Mr. J.L.  Toole came in, and was invited to sit next to Mr.
Hawkins, which he did.

At the adjournment for luncheon the Claimant muttered as they passed along, “There’s Toole come to learn actin’ from ’Arry Orkins.”

There was one witness who ought not to be forgotten.  It was Mr. Biddulph, a relation of the Tichborne family, a good-natured, amiable man, willing to oblige any one, and a county magistrate—­“one of the most amiable county magistrates I have ever met, a man of the strictest honour and unimpeachable integrity.”

He had been asked by the dowager lady to recognize her son.

“I don’t see how I can,” said he.  “I am willing to oblige, but not at the expense of truth.  Better get some one else who knew him better than I did.  This man bears no resemblance to the man I knew.  I cannot do it.”  And so he resisted all entreaties with that firmness of purpose for which he was remarkable.

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The Reminiscences of Sir Henry Hawkins (Baron Brampton) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.