"I cannot see," said the Recorder, "what is to be gained by this, Mr.
Munson?"
"Oh, very well, your Honor," said Mr. Munson, "if you think that it is unnecessary to the case of the people, I will withdraw it. We only seek for justice, despite the aspersions of counsel."
"I have no doubt whatever of your conscientiousness," said the Recorder, to mollify the rising anger of Mr. Munson. The examination then proceeded.
"You told us yesterday, that you had received a letter whilst in Europe, in which Miss Sloane wrote that Dr. Meredith was persecuting her with his attentions. Of course you have that letter?"
"No! It has been lost, unfortunately!"
"Unfortunately lost! I should say most unfortunately lost, since it is the only corroboration you had of your remarkable statement. How did you happen to lose this precious document?"
"I think that it was stolen when my office was searched by detectives, who were accompanied by Dr. Meredith."
The insinuation deftly concealed in this statement, that either Dr. Meredith had taken the paper, or that the District Attorney had suppressed it, had a visible effect upon the jury, who looked from one to the other significantly. Mr. Munson was chagrined to find what he had thought a good point in his favor, thus turned against him so quickly. He attempted to repair the damage.
"You say you think this. Do you not know, that what a man thinks is not admissible in evidence?"
"I did the best that I could to answer your question." This reply, in the humblest of tones, caused a smile.