"You occupied a cell adjoining that of the prisoner in the state prison at one time?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you state any conversation relevant to this trial which you may have overheard?"
"It was a soliloquy rather than a conversation."
"Describe this soliloquy, then."
"Floyd used to talk at night a good deal. He wasn't sleeping well." The court was hushed at this strange introduction. "There was a communication between our cells and by listening carefully one night I managed to make out what he was saying."
"And what was he saying?" asked the district attorney, while Floyd studied the witness' face with more curiosity than he had yet at any time shown.
"'Don't tell anybody, Aronson.'"
To the surprise of everybody the accused burst out into a hearty laugh, which rung through the court-room and evidently nettled the whole prosecuting force. Then he bent over to Shagarach and whispered in his ear. Shagarach jumped to his feet, promptly as usual, for the district attorney had finished. His opportunity had come.
"What crime had you committed, Mr. McCausland, that the state should isolate you in one of its prison cells?"