"You recollect Hubert Dorrien's disappearance, Dr Ingelow?" continued the prosecution, having brought the examination down to that stage. "Perfectly." "That was nearly five months after the prisoner had left Wandsborough, was it not?" "About that time." "And you had seen nothing of him since?" "Nothing whatever." "Did you know his whereabouts at that time?" "I had not an idea of it." "Will you swear to that?" "Emphatically." "When did you see him next?" "Not till the following June." "That is to say, from August of the previous year till June of the actual year in which the deceased met his death, you did not set eyes on Roland Dorrien?" "You have my exact meaning." "Did any of your family?" "Not to my knowledge." "Will you repeat that statement?" "Not to my knowledge." Here Mr Windgate made a careful note. Then followed a great deal of questioning as to the prisoner's marriage and the terms upon which he and the witness had always stood. "Now, Dr Ingelow," went on the Crown counsel, waxing impressive. "Kindly give me your closest attention. You have always been on the most intimate terms with the prisoner." "Always." "Should you call him a man of a cheerful disposition!" "Well--no." "Ah! Now did not that ever strike you as a little strange in a man of his age and position in life?" "I really can't say that it ever did." Mr Benham's face and attitude formed a study. He threw himself back and, with half-closed eyes, looking now at the ceiling, now at the witness, shook his head gently with the blandest of deprecatory smiles. "Will you kindly tell the Court how long you have been in Holy Orders?" "Thirty-three years." "You have had great experience during that time?" "I think I may say I have." "Varied experience?" "Decidedly varied experience." "At Wandsborough and elsewhere?" "Yes." "Experience of character, human nature, and so forth?" "Yes." "Is it not a fact, Dr Ingelow, that one of your daughters met with a narrow escape from drowning some time ago? Was cut off by the tide?" "That is so." "When did this occur?" "About two years and a half ago." "Was it anywhere near the time of Hubert Dorrien's disappearance?" "It was." "Before or after?" "Just after." "Just after. How long after?" "As far as I can remember, about a fortnight after." "The lady who met with that adventure is your second daughter, is she not?" "Yes." "And is now Mrs Dorrien, the wife of the prisoner?" "Yes." "Ah! And now will you kindly tell the Court the circumstances of that-- er--adventure?" This the witness did, as briefly as possible. The tale was not new to the audience, few of whom, however, had heard it at first-hand. It was listened to with vivid interest, particularly the facts relating to the rescue by the mysterious stranger. Him--being asked to do so--the witness described to the best of his ability.