The transmission of the despatch to Don Baltasar was easily proved by Cosmo and others, and by the reply, which lay on the table. Though handsome and soldierly in aspect and bearing, the Master of Rohallion could scarcely conceal a very decided animus in delivering his evidence. Brave and proud, he was yet weak enough and small enough in mind to _hate_ Quentin Kennedy with that species of animosity which is always the most bitter, because it arises from a sense of unmerited wrong done to the weaker victim. In answer to a question by the president: "Of the prisoner's antecedents," said he, "I know very little--little at least that is good or honourable." "Colonel Crawford, you will be so good as explain." "He was received as an orphan, an outcast, I believe, into the house of my father, General Lord Rohallion, when I was serving with the Brigade of Guards. That house he deserted ungratefully and disappeared for a time, no trace of him being discovered but a silver-mounted walking-stick, which I knew to be his, and which was found beside a murdered man, a vagrant or gipsy, in the vault of an old ruin called Kilhenzie. How it came there, I pretend not to say; but on searching the vault, whither my pointers led me, I picked up the stick, with marks of blood upon it, some days after the body had been taken away." On hearing this cruel and artful speech, which contained so much of reality, Quentin almost started from his chair, his eyes flashing and his pale nether lip quivering with rage; but Warriston held him forcibly back. "Prisoner," said the president, "do you know a place in Scotland called the castle of Kilhenzie?" "I do not understand the meaning of this question," said Captain Warriston, rising impetuously, "and to it I object! It is not precise on the part of the prosecution, and discloses an intention of following up a line of examination of which neither the prisoner nor his _amici curiæ_ have received due notice, and which, moreover, is not stated in the six charges before the court." After a consultation, Colonel Grant replied: "The line of examination in this instance, Captain Warriston, is to prove previous character; thus we find it quite relevant to question the prisoner concerning the episode referred to. It may bear very materially on other matters before the court. Mr. Kennedy, do you know a place called Kilhenzie?" "I do, sir," said Quentin, and for a moment there rushed upon his memory recollections of many a happy hour spent there with Flora Warrender, near its crumbling walls and giant dule-tree. "Are you aware of any remarkable circumstance occurring there in which you were an actor?" Poor Quentin's pallor now gave way to a flush of shame and honest anger; but he replied-- "Driven into the ruin by a torrent of rain, I found a dead body lying there among the straw; it filled me with alarm and dismay, so I hastened from the place." "Leaving behind you a walking-stick?" "Yes, sir; it would appear so."