"'We shall see. Only M. Julian Bordier could possibly have altered the entry?'--'Only him.' "Mr. Lawson (to the Magistrate): 'This proves that M. Bordier could not have made the erasure.'--Magistrate: 'Exactly.' "Cross-examination resumed: 'It is not important to the case, but are you familiar with the record of the marriage of Emilia Braham and Gerald Paget, or between her and any other person?'--'No, I never had occasion to refer to this particular entry.' "'Were M. Bordier and his son the only visitors you received on that day who wished to verify an entry in the register book?'--'The only visitors.' "'After they left you did you leave your office?'--'For an hour in the evening.' "'Before you discovered that the entry had been tampered with?'--'Yes, before that.' "'Who was in charge of the premises while you were away?'--'The servant, Jane Seebold.' "'When you made the discovery of the erasure, did you ask Jane Seebold if anyone had called in your absence?'--'I did not.' "'Did you at any time inform her that the book had been tampered with?'--'I did not.' "'You jumped at the conclusion that the gentlemen you accuse must be guilty?'--'There is no other conclusion.' "'That will do. Call Mr. Shepherd.' "Mr. Shepherd stepped into the witness-box. "Mr. Lawson: 'You are an expert in handwriting?'--'Witness: I am; it is my profession.' "'You have given evidence in many celebrated cases?'--'I have.' "The Magistrate: 'Mr. Shepherd's name and reputation are well known.' "'Have you examined the entry of the marriage between Emilia Braham and Gerald Paget?'--'I have.' "'There is an undoubted erasure of the signature of the bridegroom?'--'There is.' "'The name, Gerald Paget, as it now appears, has been recently written?'--'Quite recently, within the past week. The state of the ink in which the name is freshly written proves it.' "'You put a marked emphasis upon the words "freshly written." Have you a reason for doing so?'--'I have. Upon a careful examination of the entry I am of the firm opinion that the name erased is the same as the name written above the erasure. The letters have been very cleverly traced.' "The Magistrate: 'That sounds very strange.'