Audley steadied his voice with difficulty. “And what is its effect?” he asked.
“Its effect, my lord, is to corroborate our case in every particular,” the lawyer answered proudly. “Its entries form a history of the family for a long period, and amongst them is an entry of the marriage of Peter Paravicini Audley on the date alleged by us; an entry made in the handwriting of his father, and one of eleven made by the same hand. This entry agrees in every particular with the suspected statement in the register which we support, and fully bears out our case.”
“And John Audley found that?” my lord cried, after a moment of pregnant silence. He had regained his composure. His eyes were shining.
“Yes, and it killed him,” Stubbs said gravely. “Doubtless he came on it at the moment when he thought success was within his grasp, and the shock was too much for him.”
“Good Lord! Good Lord! And how did you get it?”
“From Mr. Basset.”
“Basset?”
“Who obtained it, I have no doubt, from the man, Toft, either by pressure or purchase.”
“The rascal! The d—d rascal! He ought to be prosecuted!”
“Possibly,” the lawyer agreed. “But he was only an accomplice, and we could not prosecute him without involving others; without bringing Mr. John’s name into it—and he is dead. As a fact, I have passed my word to Mr. Basset that no steps should be taken against him, and I think your lordship will agree with me that I could not do otherwise.”