"I heard of it, after the robbery was discovered, from my daughter herself."
"And, upon your oath, you did not know of it before then?"
"I did not."
"Nor suspect it even, perhaps?"
"Nor even suspect it."
Mr. Balais smiled, shrugged his shoulders. His principles of oratory were Demosthenean; his motto was "Action, action, action." His. friends on circuit called him the Balais of action. He had had some experience of the depravity of human nature, said the shrug, but this beat every thing, and would be really amusing but for its atrocious infamy. Good Heavens!
"Then you never had any conversation with the prisoner with reference to your daughter at all?"
"Never."
Mr. Balais bent down and interchanged a word or two with Mr. Weasel behind him.
"Now be so good as to give me your best attention, Mr. Trevethick, for upon my next question more may depend than you may be aware of. If you have any regard for your own interests you will answer it truly; for as sure as—"