WITNESS: A long time. I remember the clock struck two. MR. WALTERS: And you went in about midnight? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: You had two hours’ sleep? WITNESS: Yes, I suppose so. MR. WALTERS: Anything else? Did you notice anything? WITNESS: When I woke up, I sees my key on the ground, and I says, “I dropped you, did I?” So I picks it up, and asks Mister Jarsper for my bundle. MR. WALTERS: Did he give it to you? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: I think you had on that occasion a little conversation about a curious art of yours—tapping the tombs? WITNESS: Yes; oh, yes—yes. MR. WALTERS: Would you mind telling the court? WITNESS: I told him, with my little hammer I could tap and go on tapping, and I could tell whether anything was solid or whether it was hollow. For instance, I says, “Tap, tap, old ’un crumbled up in stone coffin in the vault!” MR. WALTERS: That’s what you said, is it? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: And what did Mr. Jasper say to that? WITNESS: He said it was wonderful, and I says, “No; I ain’t going to take it as a gift, ’cause it’s all out o’ my own head.” MR. WALTERS: I understand you told him what you could do by tapping the walls—tell whether it was hollow or solid? WITNESS: Yes, Durdles can tell whether it’s hollow or solid by its tap. MR. WALTERS: Was he interested in your conversation? WITNESS: Very much, sir. MR. WALTERS: Did you happen to notice the Sapsea tomb? WITNESS: Durdles knows the Sapsea tomb. MR. WALTERS: There is only one body in that tomb at present? WITNESS: Yes. MR. WALTERS: Did you tap the Sapsea tomb with your hammer, and did it sound surprising there? WITNESS: It sounded more solid than usual. MR. WALTERS: Since then, you have tapped it lately, and it sounds a little more solid? WITNESS: Yes. MR. CHESTERTON: This is contrary to an understanding. This is a formal witness, not to be cross-examined. MR. WALTERS: Very well, I will go on. (_To witness._) Did you meet him at another time? MR. CHESTERTON: This is only formal evidence. JUDGE: What is the point? MR. CHESTERTON: You will find before you, my Lord, a document, and you will find there that certain witnesses who are to be cross-examined at length will be free to go beyond certain admitted evidence. The formal witnesses are not to do so. JUDGE (_after perusing the “Conditions”_): Yes, I think I take your point, Mr. Chesterman—or Chesterton—whatever it is. The point, I understand, is that you are cross-examining this witness as if he were a principal witness of the trial. MR. CHESTERTON: In the second paragraph I think you will notice—— MR. WALTERS: It is not of great importance to me. JUDGE: One moment: I will see. (_After reading the paragraph referred to._) I think you are justified up to the point to which you have gone, but I should recommend you to terminate it with some rapidity. MR. WALTERS: I only want to ask one question. (_To witness._) You did have a conversation with Mr. Datchery? WITNESS: Yes.