Dicksey sat down--a thrill of unutterable apprehension and fear.

The examination of these three witnesses had occupied the whole of the
afternoon. The court adjourned until next morning at ten o'clock.

On Tuesday morning, despite the inclemency of the weather (said the
_Chesholm Courier_ to its readers) the parlor of the "Mitre," the
halls, the stairways, and even the inn yard were filled at the hour of
nine. The excitement was intense--you might have heard a pin drop in
the silence, when the examination of witnesses was resumed. William
Hooper was again called to take the stand:

THE CORONER.--"You remember, I suppose, the evening on which Sir
Victor brought Lady Catheron home?"

WITNESS.--"I do."

CORONER.--"You had a visitor on that night. You admitted him, did you
not, Mr. Hooper? Who was that visitor?"

"It was Mr. Juan Catheron."

"Was Mr. Juan Catheron in the habit of visiting Catheron Royals?"

"He was not."

"Can you recollect, how long a period had elapsed since his previous
visit?"

"Mr. Catheron had not been at the Royals for over four years. He was