I hurried back, with the intention of giving the thief into custody, but though search was made for him in every direction he was not to be found. I want to know what has become of him and of my property." The Coroner: "This is a strange story, Lady Wharton, and is in direct conflict with the evidence that has been tendered." Lady Wharton: "The evidence that has been tendered is in direct conflict with the facts of the case. In all my life I have never heard such a tissue of misrepresentations and delusions." "May you not yourself be labouring under a delusion?" "You had better say at once that I am not in my right senses." "Pray do not speak so excitedly. May you not have been deceived by an accidental likeness to Mr. Samuel Boyd in the person who presented himself?" "It is an absurd suggestion. There is no possibility of my having been mistaken. I tell you it was the man himself." The Coroner: "Did you keep a copy of the letter you wrote to Mr. Boyd?" Lady Wharton: "I am not in the habit of keeping copies of my letters. I leave that to tradesmen." "Have you the letter you received from him?" "I have brought it with me." Lady Wharton handed the letter to the Coroner, who read it aloud: "Mr. Samuel Boyd presents his compliments to Lady Wharton, and will have the pleasure of waiting upon her ladyship on Thursday night with the bills which he forgot to return last Friday evening, and with the additional advance her ladyship requires. Mr. Boyd hopes that her ladyship will be prepared with the jewels she speaks of, and that they will be adequate security for the increase in the loan. "Catchpole Square, N., 5th March, 1896." Lady Wharton: "And people come here and swear that at the time the man wrote that letter he had been dead five days! Can anything be more preposterous?" The Coroner: "We shall have witnesses before us who are familiar with Mr. Boyd's handwriting, and this letter will be submitted to them. Have you the visiting card Mr. Boyd gave your servant in Bournemouth?" "Here it is." "Could you identify the jewels?" "I can swear to them, if they are fortunately recovered." "That is all I have to ask you at present, Lady Wharton. If Lord Fairfax is present perhaps he will come forward." Lord Fairfax (advancing from the body of the Court): "No objection." "You have heard the account given by Lady Wharton of the visit of a person last Thursday night who announced himself as Mr. Samuel Boyd?" "Quite true." "You saw that person?" "Yes." "Have you had any dealings with Mr. Boyd?" "Happy to say, no." "Then you are not acquainted with him?" "Not the pleasure." "Then you cannot say it was Mr. Boyd." "Take Lady Wharton's word for it. Her ladyship presented him. She said, 'Mr. Samuel Boyd, Catchpole Square.' I said, 'Ah.'" "You conversed with him?" "He conversed with me. Fifty words to my one." "What was the subject of the conversation?"