Mr. Belcher had grown old during the hour. His consciousness of guilt, his fear of exposure, the threatened loss of his fortune, and the apprehension of a retribution of disgrace were sapping his vital forces, minute by minute. All the instruments that he had tried to use for his own base purposes were turned against himself. The great world that had glittered around the successful man was growing dark, and, what was worse, there were none to pity him. He had lived for himself; and now, in his hour of trouble, no one was true to him, no one loved him—not even his wife and children!
He gave a helpless, hopeless sigh, as Mr. Balfour called to the witness stand Prof. Albert Timms.
Prof. Timms was the man already described among the three new witnesses, as the one who seemed to be conscious of bearing the world upon his shoulders, and to find it so inconsiderable a burden. He advanced to the stand with the air of one who had no stake in the contest. His impartiality came from indifference. He had an opportunity to show his knowledge and his skill, and he delighted in it.
"What is your name, witness?" inquired Mr. Balfour.
"Albert Timms, at your service."
"What is your calling, sir?"
"I have at present the charge of a department in the School of Mines. My specialties are chemistry and microscopy."
"You are specially acquainted with these branches of natural science, then."
"I am, sir."
"Have you been regarded as an expert in the detection of forgery?"