“Call Edward Wimp.”

The story EDWARD WIMP had to tell began tamely enough with thrice-threshed-out facts.  But at last the new facts came.

“In consequence of suspicions that had formed in your mind you took up your quarters, disguised, in the late Mr. Constant’s rooms?”

“I did; at the commencement of the year.  My suspicions had gradually gathered against the occupants of No. 11 Glover Street, and I resolved to quash or confirm these suspicions once for all.”

“Will you tell the jury what followed?”

“Whenever the prisoner was away for the night I searched his room.  I found the key of Mr. Constant’s bedroom buried deeply in the side of prisoner’s leather sofa.  I found what I imagine to be the letter he received on December 3rd, in the pages of a ‘Bradshaw’ lying under the same sofa.  There were two razors about.”

Mr. SPIGOT, Q.C., said:  “The key has already been identified by Mrs. Drabdump.  The letter I now propose to read.”

It was undated, and ran as follows:—­

“Dear Tom,—­This is to bid you farewell.  It is best for us all.  I am going a long way, dearest.  Do not seek to find me, for it will be useless.  Think of me as one swallowed up by the waters, and be assured that it is only to spare you shame and humiliation in the future that I tear myself from you and all the sweetness of life.  Darling, there is no other way.  I feel you could never marry me now.  I have felt it for months.  Dear Tom, you will understand what I mean.  We must look facts in the face.  I hope you will always be friends with Mr. Constant.  Good-by, dear.  God bless you!  May you always be happy, and find a worthier wife than I. Perhaps when you are great, and rich, and famous, as you deserve, you will sometimes think not unkindly of one who, however faulty and unworthy of you, will at least love you till the end.—­Yours, till death,

  “JESSIE.”

By the time this letter was finished numerous old gentlemen, with wigs or without, were observed to be polishing their glasses.  Mr. Wimp’s examination was resumed.

“After making these discoveries what did you do?”

“I made inquiries about Miss Dymond, and found Mr. Constant had visited her once or twice in the evening.  I imagined there would be some traces of a pecuniary connection.  I was allowed by the family to inspect Mr. Constant’s cheque-book, and found a paid cheque made out for L25 in the name of Miss Dymond.  By inquiry at the Bank, I found it had been cashed on November l2th of last year.  I then applied for a warrant against the prisoner.”

Cross-examined:  “Do you suggest that the prisoner opened Mr. Constant’s bedroom with the key you found?”

“Certainly.”

BROWN-HARLAND, Q.C. (sarcastically):  “And locked the door from within with it on leaving?”

“Certainly.”

“Will you have the goodness to explain how the trick was done?”