“Stop a bit,” interposed Mr. Rubiny, as the witness was about to retire.  “You speak of the time being eight o’clock in the evening, sir.  Was it dark?”

“Yes.”

“Then how can you be certain it was Thorn who got out of the cab and entered?”

“I am quite certain.  There was a gas-lamp right at the spot, and I saw him as well as I should have seen him in daylight.  I knew his voice, too; could have sworn to it anywhere; and I would almost have sworn to him by his splendid diamond ring.  It flashed in the lamplight.”

“His voice!  Did he speak to you?”

“No.  But he spoke to the cabman.  There was a half dispute between them.  The man said Thorn had not paid him enough, that he had not allowed for having been kept waiting twenty minutes on the road.  Thorn swore at him a bit, and then flung him an extra shilling.”

The next witness was a man who had been groom to the late Sir Peter Levison.  He testified that the prisoner, Francis Levison had been on a visit to his master late in the summer and part of the autumn, the year that Hallijohn was killed.  That he frequently rode out in the direction of West Lynne, especially toward evening; would be away three or four hours, and come home with the horse in a foam.  Also that he picked up two letters at different times, which Mr. Levison had carelessly let fall from his pocket, and returned them to him.  Both the notes were addressed “Captain Thorn.”  But they had not been through the post, for there was no further superscription on them; and the writing looked like a lady’s.  He remembered quite well hearing of the murder of Hallijohn, the witness added, in answer to a question; it made a great stir through out the country.  It was just at that same time that Mr. Levison concluded his visit, and returned to London.

“A wonderful memory!” Mr. Rubiny sarcastically remarked.

The witness, a quiet, respectable man, replied that he had a good memory; but that circumstances had impressed upon it particularly the fact that Mr. Levison’s departure followed close upon the murder of Hallijohn.

“One day, when Sir Peter was round at the stables, gentlemen, he was urging his nephew to prolong his visit, and asked what sudden freak was taking him off.  Mr. Levison replied that unexpected business called him to London.  While they were talking, the coachman came up, all in a heat, telling that Hallijohn, of West Lynne, had been murdered by young Mr. Hare.  I remember Sir Peter said he could not believe it; and that it must have been an accident, not murder.”

“Is that all?”

“There was more said.  Mr. Levison, in a shameful sort of manner, asked his uncle, would he let him have five or ten pounds?  Sir Peter seemed angry, and asked, what had he done with the fifty-pound note he had made him a present of only the previous morning?  Mr. Levison replied that he had sent that away to a brother officer, to whom he was in debt.  Sir Peter refused to believe it, and said he had more likely squandered it upon some disgraceful folly.  Mr. Levison denied that he had; but he looked confused, indeed, his matter altogether was confused that morning.”