The evidence, he continued, consisted of a series of mere coincidences-- one or two of them, it might be, a little remarkable, but--coincidences. The time had gone by in this country, he thanked Heaven, when men were convicted on purely circumstantial evidence. As for the motive which the prosecution had evolved, it was, he made bold to say, the veriest mare's nest. Why, several of the most reliable witnesses had stated on oath that there wae no ill-will between the two brothers, and that on the whole they were on good terms. He wae not there to defend the absent Durnford, since it was abundantly proved that with that mysterious personage his client had nothing whatever to do, but he would just remark that in the conflicting evidence in the matter of the hall clock and the maid-servant's watch, it was merely oath against oath--and that nothing was more confusing than differences in time. The witness Grainger had utterly failed to identify the accused. Under the prosecution's very bewildering cross-examination he had, it was true, been afflicted with a temporary misgiving, but that was perfectly natural under the circumstances. So against two rogues, and one honest man, who could not be quite sure as to his statements, they had the positive evidence of Dr Ingelow and Mr Turner against the identity. That was to say, the two witnesses in this case to whom the accused had always been best known. And all the side evidence made for his client. "Gentlemen," he concluded, in his most impressive manner, "I now call upon you honourably to acquit my client. Remember, with you rests the most awful responsibility which can be laid upon the shoulders of mortal men--the life or death of a fellow creature. You must either honourably acquit him or doom him to an ignominious death. There is no middle course--absolutely none." "Good old phrase that," muttered the sporting junior, chuckling inwardly over the scared look on the wooden faces of the twelve intelligent Englishmen. "--Therefore, I call upon you to record your true sentiments, the sentiments of upright and true Englishmen, and to acquit with honour my client, to restore a wronged but high-minded gentleman to his family--to a fond wife, whose affliction during these terrible weeks I dare not imagine--to that neighbourhood which is anxiously waiting to receive him back with acclamation--to a long, benevolent, and useful life, which he has already begun most signally to adorn. "Gentlemen, I leave my client in your hands with perfect confidence as to the result." A few moments of silence, and then the Crown counsel, who had been, to all outward appearance, intently studying his brief, rose.