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246 'As he was the lawyer, that would be natural.'

'I suppose it would.'

'And you don't remember the nature of that special deed, as explained to you on the day when Bridget Bolster was in the room?'

'No, I don't.'

'It might have been a will?'

'Yes, it might. I did sign one or two wills for Sir Joseph, I think.'

'And as to this individual document, Mr. Usbech might have signed it in your presence, for anything you know to the contrary?'

'He might have done so.'

'Now, on your oath, Kenneby, is your memory strong enough to enable you to give the jury any information on this subject upon which they may firmly rely in convicting that unfortunate lady of the terrible crime laid to her charge.' Then for a moment Kenneby glanced round and fixed his eyes upon Lady Mason's face. 'Think a moment before you answer; and deal with her as you would wish another should deal with you if you were so situated. Can you say that you remember that Usbech did not sign it?'

'Well, sir, I don't think he did.'

'But he might have done so?'

'Oh, yes; he might.'

'You do not remember that he did do so?'

'Certainly not.'

'And that is about the extent of what you mean to say?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Let me understand,' said the judge—and then the perspiration became more visible on poor Kenneby's face;—'do you mean to say that you have no memory on the matter whatever?—that you simply do not remember whether Usbech did or did not sign it?'

'I don't think he signed it.'

'But why do you think he did not, seeing that his name is there?'

'I didn't see him.'

'Do you mean,' continued the judge, 'that you didn't see him, or that you don't remember that you saw him?'

'I don't remember that I saw him.'

'But you may have done so? He may have signed, and you may have seen him do so, only you don't remember it?'

'Yes, my lord.'

And then Kenneby was allowed to go down. As he did so, Joseph Mason, who sat near to him, turned upon him a look black as thunder. Mr. Mason gave him no credit for his timidity, but believed that he had been bought over by the other side. Dockwrath, however, knew better. 'They did not quite beat him about his own signature,' said he; 'but I knew all along that we must depend chiefly upon Bolster.'