“Mrs. Burton, I wish you to remember that the life of the prisoner at the bar will, most probably, be affected by your testimony. Be kind enough, then, to be very guarded and close in your answers. Do you still say that this is the precise coin that you once saw in Mrs. Goodwin’s stocking?”
The witness seemed suddenly struck with the manner of the advocate. She trembled from head to foot. Still, Dunscomb spoke mildly, kindly even; and the idea conveyed in the present, was but a repetition of that conveyed in the former question. Nevertheless, those secret agencies, by means of which thought meets thought, unknown to all but their possessors; that set in motion, as it might be, all the covert currents of the mind, causing them to flow towards similar streams in the mind of another, were now at work, and Dunscomb and the witness had a clue to each other’s meaning that entirely escaped the observation of all around them. There is nothing novel in this state of secret intelligence. It doubtless depends on a mutual consciousness, and a common knowledge of certain material facts, the latter being applied by the former, with promptitude and tact. Notwithstanding her sudden alarm, and the change it brought over her entire manner, Mrs. Burton answered the question as before; what was more, she answered it truly. The piece of gold found in Mary Monson’s purse, and now in possession of the coroner, who had kept it carefully, in order to identify it, had been in Dorothy Goodwin’s stocking.
“Quite certain, sir. I know that to be the same piece of money that I saw, at different times, in Mrs. Goodwin’s stocking.”
“Did you ever have that gold coin in your own hand, Mrs. Burton, previously to this trial?”
This was a very natural and simple interrogatory; one that might be, and probably was, anticipated; yet it gave the witness uneasiness, more from the manner of Dunscomb, perhaps, than from anything in the nature of the inquiry itself. The answer, however, was given promptly, and, as before, with perfect truth.
“On several occasions, sir. I saw that notch, and talked with Mrs. Goodwin about it, more than once.”
“What was the substance of Mrs. Goodwin’s remarks, in relation to that notch?”
“She asked me, one time, if I thought it lessened the weight of the coin; and if so, how much I thought it might take away from its value?”
“What was your answer?”
“I believe I said I did not think it could make any great difference.”