"That wire," said the witness impressively, "is in Mr. Rossenbaum's possession now. On returning to the office I found that Mr. Solomon had gone out and left a note saying that he had been called away on business, and would not be back till next morning. I still have that note. Then, having certain business to do myself, I went out of town and did not get back till the following day."
"Then neither you nor your employer were in Singapore on the night the Arrow disappeared?" suggested the president as the witness paused.
"No, sir."
Other witnesses were then called—all of them natives or half-castes—to show that Mr. Solomon was not in Singapore on the night of the Arrow's departure, and that he had never had any business dealings with Calamity.
"I will now call upon the accused to make his defence and examine any witnesses he thinks fit," said the president.
Mr. Vayne at once stood up, and, adjusting his pinc-nez, addressed the tribunal.
"I think it only right to inform the court that my client is not quite the nameless adventurer the prosecutor would have you believe," he said in a loud, sonorous voice. "It is true that he is known in these parts as Captain Calamity, and it is equally true that his name is John Brighouse. But he is also Viscount Redhurst of Redhurst—a fact which I mention, gentlemen, because I assume that, when we come to deal with conflicting statements, you will grant that the word of an English peer is at least equal to that of a semi-Asiatic ship-chandler."
Mr. Vayne paused for a moment or two after this dénouement, in order to let the full significance of his statement sink into the minds of his opponents. He had taken their measure pretty accurately, and calculated upon the effect which his words would produce.
"With the permission of the court," he went on, "I will recall the prosecutor and put a few questions to him."
At a gesture from the president, Mr. Solomon stepped forward. The air of conscious rectitude which had distinguished him when giving evidence against Calamity was not now so apparent.