“Look at the prisoner, Sir Francis Levison. Is it he whom you knew as Thorn?”
“Yes; but that does not make him guilty of the murder.”
“Of course it does not,” complacently assented Lawyer Ball. “How long did you remain with Captain Thorn in London—upon that little visit, you know?”
Afy started like anybody moonstruck.
“When you quitted this place, after the tragedy, it was to join Captain Thorn in London. How long, I ask, did you remain with him?”
Entirely a random shaft, this. But Richard had totally denied to Lawyer Ball the popular assumption that Afy had been with him.
“Who says I was with him? Who says I went after him?” flashed Afy, with scarlet cheeks.
“I do,” replied Lawyer Ball, taking notes of her confusion. “Come, it’s over and done with—it’s of no use to deny it now. We all go upon visits to friends sometimes.”
“I never heard anything so bold!” cried Afy. “Where will you tell me I went next?”
“You are upon your oath, woman!” again interposed Justice Hare, and a trembling, as of agitation, might be detected in his voice, in spite of its ringing severity. “Were you with the prisoner Levison, or were you with Richard Hare?”