He had alluded to the subject in conversation with Mr. Geoffery Arden.
Here Geoffery, the sole evidence for the defence was called to the witness-box.
Did he remember any conversation of the nature referred to?
There was only one occasion on which he could call to mind Sir Alfred having made allusion to the cause of Sir Willoughby's death.
He was requested to state minutely what had passed on that occasion.
About half an hour after Sir Willoughby had expired, he had followed Sir Alfred to the bed-chamber of the deceased, where he had found him reclining his face against the bed, apparently in a state of great mental suffering. He had made some attempts to calm his agitation, but without success; when, however, he was about to retire, Sir Alfred had looked up suddenly, and asked him if the Doctor had not said, that symptoms similar to those which had attended the dying moments of his brother, might have been occasioned by a fit of apoplexy. On being answered in the affirmative, he had added hastily, "Let it be so supposed then, and discourage all further inquiry;" he then again hid his face.
Had nothing more passed?
Nothing with which he could charge his memory.
"Bad memories are the fashion," whispered Fips, with a grin of triumph, and a grunt of approbation.
Here the prisoner's counsel cross-examined Geoffery in the closest and ablest manner, but could not draw from him that part of the conversation in which Alfred had expressed a fear of Christian burial being denied, and his mother's affliction increased, should the suicide be suspected. Thus mutilated, the evidence of the sole witness for the defence, told rather against than for the prisoner's cause, but, as there had been no third person present, the case was without remedy.