“I never have.”
“You distinctly swear to that?”
“Distinctly.”
“Don’t you think, Mr Benham, you’ve got out of this witness all you’re likely to get?” said the judge snappishly.
“I have just put my last question, m’lord,” was the suave reply. “Thank you, Dr Ingelow.” And Mr Benham sat down, more nonplussed than he cared to show.
Mr Windgate rose.
“I should be glad, my lord, if you would kindly make a note of the fact that this witness has three times distinctly sworn that no identity existed between the stranger, Robert Durnford, and my client, Roland Dorrien.”
“Er—twice I think, Mr Windgate,” said the judge.
“Pardon me, my lord. Three times. If your lordship will glance back a few folios. This gentleman stated earlier in his evidence that from August till the following June he had not set eyes on the prisoner. Now, the young lady’s adventure befel in February, between those months. Therefore the statement amounts to a denial of the identity.”
“Very well, Mr Windgate.”