"I beg Your Worship's pardon," he said, quietly, with a polite bow to the bench, "but really, the witness is under a mistaken impression! I don't know him, and I have never been in the town he mentions--in fact, I have never been in the United States. I am very sorry, but, really, there is some strange mistake--I--the witness is an absolute stranger to me!" The attention of all present was transferred to Hyde. And Hyde flushed, leaned forward over the ledge of the witness-box and gave the claimant a long, steady stare. "No mistake at all!" he suddenly exclaimed in a firm voice. "That's Mr. Nugent Starr! I played with him for over twelve months." While this had been going on, Felpham on one side, and Carless on the other, had been whispering to Mr. Millington-Bywater, who listened to both with growing interest, and began to nod to each with increasing intelligence--and then, suddenly, the prosecuting counsel played unexpectedly and directly into his hand. "If Your Worship pleases," said the prosecuting counsel, "I should like to have the prisoner's assertion categorically denied--it may be of importance. Perhaps this gentleman will go into the box and deny it on oath." Mr. Millington-Bywater sat down as quickly as if a heavy hand had forced him into his seat, and Viner saw a swift look of gratification cross his features. Close by, Mr. Pawle chuckled with joy. "By the Lord Harry!" he whispered, "the very thing we wanted! No need to wait for the adjourned coroner's inquest, Viner--the thing'll come out now!" Viner did not understand. He saw Hyde turned out of the box; he saw the claimant, after an exchange of remarks with Methley, step into it; he heard him repeat on oath the denial he had just uttered, after stating that his name was Cave, and that he lived at the Belmead Hotel, Lancaster Gate; and he saw Mr. Millington-Bywater, after exchanging a few questions and answers in whispers with Hyde over the ledge of the dock, turn to the witness as he was about to step down. "A moment, sir," he said. "I want to ask you a few questions, with the permission of His Worship, who will soon see that they are very pertinent. So," he went on, "you reside at the Belmead Hotel, in Lancaster Gate, and your name is Edward Cave?" "At present," answered the witness, stiffly. "Do you mean that your name is Edward Cave--at present?" "My name is Edward Cave, and at present I live--as I have stated," replied the witness with dignity. "You have just stated, on oath, that you are not Nugent Starr, have never been so called, don't know the prisoner, never met him in America, have never set foot in America! Now, then--mind, you're on your oath!--is Edward Cave your real or full name?" "Well, strictly speaking," answered the witness, after some hesitation, "no, it is not. My full name is Cave-Gray--my family name; but for the present--"