‘Had application been made to Mr. Mohun on the subject?’
‘Yes, Colonel Mohun had immediately telegraphed to him at the address in the Fiji Islands.’
‘Has any answer been received?’
‘No!’ but Colonel Mohun had a curious expression in his eyes, and Mr. Calderwood electrified the court by begging to call upon Mr. Maurice Mohun.
There he was in the witness-box, looking sunburnt but vigorous. He replied immediately to the question that the cheque was his own, and that it had been left under his daughter’s charge, also that it had been for seven pounds, and the ‘ty’ and the cypher had never been written by him. The prisoner winced for a moment, and then looked at him defiantly.
The connection with Alfred Flinders was inquired into and explained, and being asked as to the term ‘Uncle,’ he replied, ‘My daughter was allowed to get into the habit of so terming him.’
The sisters saw his look of pain, and Jane remembered his strong objection to the title, and his wife’s indignant defence of it.
Dolores stood trembling outside in the waiting-room, by her Uncle Reginald, from whom she heard that her father had come that morning from London with Lord Rotherwood, but that it had been thought better not to agitate her by letting her know of it before she gave her evidence.
‘Has he had my letter?’ she asked.
‘No; he knew nothing till he saw Rotherwood last night.’