jewels, or by all the gods I'll blow the story of your marriage to me
all over England!'"

The breathless silence of coroner, jury, and spectators at this
juncture was something not to be described. In that profound silence,
James Dicksey went rambling on to say, that he could swear before the
Queen herself to those words, that he had been thinking them over ever
since he had heard them, and that he couldn't make top or tail of them.

THE CORONER (interrupting)--"What further did you overhear? Be careful,
remember you are on oath."

JAMES DICKSEY.--"I heard what my lady said. She was in an awful
passion, and spoke loud. She said, 'You will not, you dare not, you're
a coward; Sir Victor has you in his power, and if you say one word
you'll be silenced in Chesholm jail.' Then she stamped her foot again,
and said, 'Leave me, Juan Catheron; I am not afraid of you.' Yes; he
was sure of the name; she called him Juan Catheron, and looked as if
she could eat him alive. He had heard no more; he was afraid of being
caught, and had stolen quietly away. Had said nothing at all about it
to any one, was afraid it might reach my lady's ears, and that he
would lose his place for eavesdropping. At ten o'clock that night was
told of the murder, and was took all of a-tremble. Had told
Superintendent Ferrick something of this next day, but this was
all--yes so help him, all he had heard, and just as he had heard it."

James Dicksey was rigidly cross-examined, and clung to his testimony
with a dogged tenacity nothing could alter or shake. He could swear
positively to the name she had uttered, to the words both had spoken,
if he were dying. A profound sensation ran through the room as James