"No, but in hers I will," said Mrs. Gaunt; "no power shall hinder me."
The Judge (coldly). Had you not better go on cross-examining the witness?
Whitworth. Let me see your marriage certificate, if you have one?
It was handed to him.
"Well, now how do you know that this Thomas Leicester was Griffith Gaunt?"
The Judge. Why, she has told you he confessed it to her.
Mercy. Yes, my lord; and, besides, he wrote me two letters signed Thomas Leicester. Here they are, and I desire they may be compared with the paper he wrote last Wednesday, and signed Griffith Gaunt. And more than that, whilst we lived together as man and wife, one Hamilton, a travelling painter, took our portraits, his and mine. I have brought his with me. Let his friends and neighbors look on this portrait, and say whose likeness it is. What I say and swear is, that on Wednesday last I saw and spoke with that Thomas Leicester, or Griffith Gaunt, whose likeness I now show you.
With that she lifted the portrait up, and showed it to all the court.
Instantly there was a roar of recognition.
It was one of those hard daubs that are nevertheless so monstrously like the originals.