'It is irrelevant,' he said, 'and I won't allow it if you object. In a case like this we can't be too strict, of course.' Mr. Pollard began to realize that greatness has its snares as well as its triumphs. He tried to get back on to the track. 'You went to see the deceased on the first of June?' 'I did.' 'And you came away----' Here the barrister's brother leant over and handed him a slip of paper. He took it and read it, turned red, and, trying to appear as if he had not been prompted, put the question contained in the slip of paper: 'Was anything said about the jewels?' The judge stared. Tressamer started to his feet in a transport of fury. 'My lord, my friend is deliberately leading the witness. In a case of murder it is disgraceful!' 'I agree with you, Mr. Tressamer. Don't answer that question, sir.' Thus the judge. Poor young Pollard turned as red as the judge's robe, and stammered out some apology. His brother mentally swore at him, and every solicitor in court resolved never to give him another brief. 'Go on, Mr. Pollard; you mustn't keep us waiting.' The wretched young man gave a last look at his brief, and closed the examination. 'And you left about ten o'clock?' ('Leading again!' ejaculated his opponent.) 'Yes. My lord, may I say----' 'No!' snapped the judge. 'Say nothing unless you're asked.' The witness looked angry, and frowned savagely at his counsel. But the latter had now sat down, and the cross-examination was about to begin. Tressamer had been studying the witness, with a view of ascertaining his weak point. This was evidently his temper. Accordingly he avoided irritating him till he had obtained as much as he could from him. He began: 'Had you any other relatives living besides Miss Lewis?' The witness was thoroughly thrown out. He could not see what was coming. In a sullen voice he responded: 'Yes, I've a sister in the North.' 'Did you go to see her before your aunt?' 'No.--My lord, may I explain?' The Judge: 'You had better confine yourself to the questions now. You will have an opportunity of explaining afterwards.' 'You went straight to your aunt. Was she pleased to see you?' 'Yes, she seemed very pleased.' 'And yet she let you stay at a hotel?' 'That was only the first night. It was arranged that I was to occupy a bedroom in her house afterwards.' 'Oh!' Type cannot do justice to the peculiar intonation with which the barrister uttered this exclamation. The whole court was aroused to suspect something beneath the surface. Then he turned round to the jury with a mysterious expression, and slowly repeated the answer: 'It was arranged that you were to occupy a room in her house after that night?' The jury roused themselves for a grand effort, and succeeded in imparting a distinct air of suspicion to their countenances. At last Mr. Lewis's temper came into play. He cried out: 'Yes; and if I had been there the first night, I might have prevented this murder.' 'Silence, sir!' said the Judge.