The judge interposed. "Answer the question, sir."
The witness turned his twitching countenance towards the judge.
"I would respectfully suggest, my lord, that it has nothing to do with the present case."
Mr. Bates struck in.
"With your lordship's permission, I may be able to render the witness material assistance. Mr. Taunton, at York Assizes, five years ago this month, under the name of Arthur Stewart, were you not sentenced to five years' penal servitude by Mr. Justice Hunter?"
The judge pressed his spectacles into their place.
"I thought I had seen the man before. I remember him very well. Was it a case of bigamous intermarriage?"
"The man--this man--was found guilty of having married four women, one after the other, of robbing them of all they had, and then deserting them. Possibly, also, your lordship will remember that no less than three previous convictions were proved against him."
"I remember the case very well. And I remember the man. It was one of the worst cases of the kind I had ever encountered. I believe I said so at the time."
"Your lordship did. Strangely enough, while your lordship was judge, I was for the prosecution. I recognised the man directly he stepped into the box. I have no doubt that he recognised me."