“It’s news to you, then, that there was such a duplicate?”
“Quite news. I don’t believe it.”
“You won’t believe me, then, if I tell you this is the duplicate?”
“No, I shall not. You’re only trying to frighten me.”
“Are you willing to let this case depend upon the result of opening this duplicate?”
“Certainly not. How do I know it’s genuine?”
“I shall require you to prove that, Mr. Tempest,” said the judge.
“As your lordship pleases,” replied the barrister.
“My lord,” said Mr. Barnett, “I shall strongly object to the production of that document. It is not mentioned in their affidavit of documents.”
“I haven’t the remotest idea what is in the parcel,” said Tempest. “I imagine the documents it contains will be in the handwriting of Sir John, and will practically prove themselves. But I can assure my learned friend that I was only intending to use the contents in cross-examination. He seems much more afraid of them than I am.”