"Come, did he fall in love with _you_, then? There was ample apology for it, I am sure, and he ought to have been ashamed of himself if he hadn't. Now, did he 'court' you? I think you must know what that means." No answer. Every eye was upon her, the judge's double glasses included. They might have been burning-glasses, she felt so hot and frightened. "Come, did this young gentleman ever give you a kiss?" "Yes, Sir," murmured poor Harry, almost under her breath. "Did you say 'Yes' or 'No?'" inquired the judge, dipping his pen in the ink. "I said 'Yes,' my lord," said the unhappy Harry. "There were more kisses than one, now, I dare say," said Mr. Balais, with a wink at the jury; "and they were not all on one side, eh?" No answer. "Some of them were on the other side, were they not? I don't mean on the other cheek, for I have no doubt he was perfectly indifferent as to that." Again there was a little titter. "She is your own witness, Brother Balais," observed his lordship, "but it seems to me you are giving her unnecessary pain." He had a very tender heart, had the old judge, where a young and pretty woman was concerned--otherwise he was a Tartar. "My lud, it is absolutely necessary to prove that my client's passion was reciprocated. Did you ever return one of these many kisses, Miss Trevethick?" "Yes, Sir." "Did you ever meet him alone at night in a place, I believe, called the Fairies' Bower?" "Yes, Sir." "Yes," repeated Mr. Balais, recapitulating these facts upon his fingers; "you were left alone with him all day; you met him alone at night, away from your father's roof; you returned his kisses; and all this without the slightest suspicion--if we are to believe his evidence--being aroused upon the part of your parent. Now, Miss Trevethick, you were aware that your father kept a large sum of money--these two thousand pounds--in his strong-box, were you not?" "I was, Sir." "Did you ever speak to the prisoner at the bar about it?" "I think--yes, I did, Sir, on one occasion," and here Harry's voice fluttered and faltered. No one noticed it, however, except the prisoner; if any neighbor eyes had watched him narrowly--but they were all fixed upon the witness--they would have seen his face whiten, and his brow grow damp. Why should she have laid that stress upon "on one occasion?" "You told him that the two thousand pounds were in the box in the cupboard in your bedroom?" "I did, Sir." "The fastening of the box was not an ordinary lock, I believe. It was what is called a letter padlock?" "Yes, Sir." "Did you ever open it?" "No, Sir." A great bell seemed to be suddenly set tolling in Richard's brain--it was the knell of all his hopes. "You had never opened it at that time, eh?" continued Mr. Balais, cheerfully. "But you learned the secret afterward?" "I--yes--I did." "Do you remember the letters that did open it?" "Yes, Sir." "What were they?" "B, N, Z."