"Yes."
"And you have reason to believe that the accused committed the offence?"
"I can prove it," said Mr. Solomon eagerly, but still carefully avoiding the Captain's eye.
"That will do," said the president, and Mr. Solomon, with a grin of triumph on his face, was about to retire, when the solicitor rose from his chair.
"With your permission, sir," he said, addressing the president, "I should like to ask this witness a question."
"Proceed then."
"Was there anything in the nature of a partnership existing between yourself and the accused?" asked the solicitor.
"Most emphatically not!" exclaimed the witness. "I have never had any dealings vith the man. He showed me a paper vich purported to be a privateer's licence, but in my opinion it vas a forgery."
"That was all I wanted to know," said Mr. Vayne, and sat down.
The next witness was Tilak Sumbowa, Solomon's water-clerk, who, in answer to the president, proceeded to give a long and detailed account of how, on the very day that the Arrow disappeared, his employer, Mr. Solomon, had instructed him to wire Mr. Rossenbaum that his steamer was awaiting a crew.