CHAPTER XX
OPENING FIRE
The first witness called to the stand by Mr. Sutherland was James Wilson. There were many present who noted the resemblance between him and his son, John Wilson, who had given testimony at the inquest, though unaware of the relationship between them.
"Mr. Wilson," said the attorney, after the usual preliminaries, "I understand you were for a number of years in the employ of Ralph Maxwell Mainwaring, the testator whose name is affixed to this will; is that so?"
"Yes, sir," was the reply, while the attention of the crowd was at once riveted upon the witness.
"Will you state how long you were in his employ, and in what capacity?"
"I was his valet, sir, from his twenty-fifth year until the day of his death, a little above thirty-five years, sir; and during his last illness, of about three months, I was with him constantly, you might say, sir."
"Do you recognize the document just read in your hearing as anything which you have heard before?"
"That I do, sir."