"Oh, you never heard that anyone had!" said Mr Benham quickly, catching up the statement in just the way to embarrass and disconcert a nervous witness. And Eustace, remembering sundry cautions he had received in private about _volunteering_ evidence, felt disconcerted accordingly. His narrative of the descent of Smugglers' Ladder evoked considerable applause, for the ill-omened chasm was well known by reputation. He stated how he had found nothing on reaching the bottom. "Nothing, Mr Ingelow? Come, just cast your memory back." "Well, I mean I found nothing of importance, only a little matchbox," "Ah-h! Two years and a half is a long time to look back across at your age," said Mr Benham kindly, hitching his thumbs into the shoulders of his gown and looking smilingly superior. "Now, what did you do with this little matchbox?" "I handed it to Mr Curtis." "Is this it?" "Yes." There was a visible cloud on Eustace's face as he held the silver matchbox in his hand, as if it would burn him. Heads craned forward to catch a glimpse of the article. "Had you ever seen that matchbox before you found it at the bottom of-- er--Smugglers' Ladder," asked Mr Benham impressively. "I think so." "Where did you see it?" "I had seen it--er--I had seen Roland use it." "You had see Roland Dorrien use it. How many times? Once--twice-- perhaps?" "I can't remember exactly how many times." "No? You used often to--well--to have a pipe together, no doubt?" "Yes." "And Roland Dorrien was in the habit of using that matchbox?" "Yes." "In fact, you are under the impression it belonged to him?" "Yes." "Now, Mr Ingelow--you are on your oath, mind. Is this, or is it not, the same matchbox which you saw in the prisoner's possession?" "I can't positively swear to it. It is like it, certainly." "Yet it is of very peculiar make." "The witness says he can't swear to it, Mr Benham," interposed the judge. "Don't you think we might drop the matchbox now?" "Certainly, my lord. I have nothing further to ask." "Nor I, my lord," said Windgate. And Eustace, to his unspeakable relief, was told to stand down, which relief was dashed by a miserable misgiving that he had somehow or other materially damaged his relative's chances. CHAPTER FORTY THREE. DARKER AND DARKER. To Eustace succeeded his father, and the appearance of Dr Ingelow in the witness-box gave rise to not a little expectation on the part of many. They wondered what card the prosecution held up its sleeve, and although outwardly calmness and composure, so did he. Beginning at his earliest acquaintance with Roland Dorrien, Mr Benham put the rector through a long, minute, and tiresome examination, repeatedly challenged as irrelevant by the opposing counsel, as to his relations with the Dorrien family at that time. On these points the judge supported Mr Windgate, and the queries were waived or put less pointedly.