He asked many questions about the circumstances of the interview when I took down the will. I answered them all. But I vaguely felt he and I were at cross-purposes. I grew almost as uncomfortable under his gaze as if he had been examining me in the interest of the other side. He managed to fluster me. As a witness for Harold, I was a grotesque failure. Then the cross-eyed Q.C., rising and shaking his huge bulk, began to cross-examine me. 'Where did you type-write this thing, do you say?' he said, pointing to it contemptuously. 'In my office at Florence.' 'Yes, I understand; you had an office in Florence--after you gave up retailing bicycles on the public roads; and you had a partner, I think--a Miss Petherick, or Petherton, or Pennyfarthing, or something?' 'Miss Petheridge,' I corrected, while the Court tittered. 'Ah, Petheridge, you call it! Well, now answer this question carefully. Did your Miss Petheridge hear Mr. Ashurst dictate the terms of his last will and testament?' 'No,' I answered. 'The interview was of a strictly confidential character. Mr. Ashurst took me aside into the back room at our office.' 'Oh, he took you aside? Confidential? Well, now we're getting at it. And did anybody but yourself see or hear any part whatsoever of this precious document?' 'Certainly not,' I replied. 'It was a private matter.' 'Private! oh, very! Nobody else saw it. Did Mr. Ashurst take it away from the office in person?' 'No; he sent his courier for it.' 'His courier? The man Higginson?' 'Yes; but I refused to give it to Higginson. I took it myself that night to the hotel where Mr. Ashurst was stopping.' 'Ah! You took it yourself. So the only other person who knows anything at first hand about the existence of the alleged will is this person Higginson?' 'Miss Petheridge knows,' I said, flushing. 'At the time, I told her of it.' 'Oh, _you_ told her. Well, that doesn't help us much. If what you are swearing isn't true--remember, you are on your oath--what you told Miss Petherick or Petheridge or Pennyfarthing, "at the time," can hardly be regarded as corroborative evidence. Your word then and your word now are just equally valuable--or equally worthless. The only person who knows besides yourself is Higginson. Now, I ask you, _where_ is Higginson? _Are_ you going to produce him?' The wicked cunning of it struck me dumb. They were keeping him away, and then using his absence to cast doubts on my veracity. 'Stop,' I cried, taken aback, 'Higginson is well known to be a rogue, and he is keeping away lest he may damage your side. I know nothing of Higginson.' 'Yes, I'm coming to that in good time. Don't be afraid that we're going to pass over Higginson. You admit this man is a man of bad character. Now, what do you know of him?' I told the stories of the Count and of Dr. Fortescue-Langley.