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244 'I tried to speak the truth, sir.'

'You tried to speak the truth? But do you mean to say that you failed?'

'No, I don't think I failed.'

'When, therefore, you told the jury that you were nearly sure that you had witnessed three signatures of Sir Joseph's in one day, that was truth?'

'I don't think I ever did.'

'Ever did what?'

'Witness three papers in one day.'

'You don't think you ever did?'

'I might have done, to be sure.'

'But then, at that trial, about twelve months after the man's death, you were nearly sure you had done so.'

'Was I?'

'So you told the jury.'

'Then I did, sir.'

'Then you did what?'

'Did witness all those papers.'

'You think then now that it is probable you witnessed three signatures on the same day?'

'No, I don't think that.'

'Then what do you think?'

'It is so long ago, sir, that I really don't know.'

'Exactly. It is so long ago that you cannot depend on your memory.'

'I suppose I can't, sir.'

'But you just now told the gentleman who examined you on the other side, that you were quite sure you did not witness two deeds on the day he named,—the 14th of July. Now, seeing that you doubt your own memory, going back over so long a time, do you wish to correct that statement?'

'I suppose I do.'

'What correction do you wish to make?'

'I don't think I did.'

'Don't think you did what?'

'I don't think I signed two'

'I really cannot hear the witness,' said the judge

'You must speak out louder,' said Mr. Furnival, himself speaking very loudly.

'I mean to do it as well as I can,' said Kenneby.

'I believe you do,' said Furnival; 'but in so meaning you must be very careful to state nothing as a certainty, of the certainty of which you are not sure. Are you certain that on that day you did not witness two deeds?'

'I think so.'