"His little boy wrote me from there, and told me so."
Mr. Cavendish had found more than he sought. He wanted to harass the witness, but he had been withheld by his client. Baffled on one hand and restrained on the other—for Mr. Belcher could not give her up, and learn to hate her in a moment—he told the witness he had no more questions to ask.
Mrs. Dillingham drew down her veil again, and walked to her seat.
Harry Benedict was next called, and after giving satisfactory answers to questions concerning his understanding of the nature of an oath, was permitted to testify.
"Harry," said Mr. Balfour, "were you ever in Mr. Belcher's house?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell us how it happened that you were there."
"Mr. Belcher stopped me in the street, and led me up the steps, and then up stairs into his room."
"What question did he ask you?"
"He wanted to know whether my father was alive."