'Did you ever hear him say he had any thoughts of the means of leaving the mill privately?' 'Something like it,' said Aubrey, turning very red. 'Can you tell me the words?' 'He said if things went on, that I was not to be surprised if I heard non est inventus,' said Aubrey, speaking as if rapidity would conceal the meaning of the words, but taken aback by being made to repeat and translate them to the jury. 'And did he mention any way of escaping?' 'He said the window and cedar-tree were made for it, and that he often went out that way to bathe,' said Aubrey. 'When did this conversation take place?' 'On Sunday, the 22nd of June,' said Aubrey, in despair, as the Crown lawyer thanked him, and sat down. He felt himself betrayed into having made their talk wear the air of deliberate purpose, and having said not one word of what Mr. Bramshaw had hailed as hopeful. However, the defending barrister rose up to ask him what he meant by having answered 'Something like it.' 'Because,' said Aubrey, promptly, 'though we did make the scheme, we were neither of us in earnest.' 'How do you know the prisoner was not in earnest?' 'We often made plans of what we should like to do.' 'And had you any reason for thinking this one of such plans!' 'Yes,' said Aubrey; 'for he talked of getting gold enough to build up the market-cross, or else of going to see the Feejee Islands. 'Then you understood the prisoner not to express a deliberate purpose, so much as a vague design.' 'Just so,' said Aubrey. 'A design that depended on how things went on at the mill.' And being desired to explain his words, he added, that Leonard had said he could not bear the sight of Sam Axworthy's tyranny over the old man, and was resolved not to stay, if he were made a party to any of the dishonest tricks of the trade. 'In that case, did he say where he would have gone?' 'First to New Zealand, to my brother, the Reverend Norman May.' Leonard's counsel was satisfied with the colour the conversation had now assumed; but the perils of re-examination were not over yet, for the adverse lawyer requested to know whence the funds were to have come for this adventurous voyage. 'We laughed a little about that, and he said he should have to try how far his quarter's salary would go towards a passage in the steerage.' 'If your friend expressed so strong a distaste to his employers and their business, what induced him to enter it?' Leonard's counsel again objected to this inquiry, and it was not permitted. Aubrey was dismissed, and, flushed and giddy, was met by his brother Tom, who almost took him in his arms as he emerged from the passage. 'O, Tom! what have I done?' 'Famously, provided there's no miller in the jury. Come,' as he felt the weight on his arm, 'Flora says I am to take you down and make you take something.' 'No, no, no, I can't! I must go back.'