"
Thus saying, he handed the letter to Mr. Cavendish, who received and
read it.
Mr. Cavendish consulted his client, and then rose and said: "May it
please the Court, there is no such book in existence."
"I happen to know," rejoined Mr. Balfour, "that there is such a book in
existence, unless it has recently been destroyed. This I stand ready to
prove by the testimony of Helen Dillingham, the sister of the
plaintiff."
"The witness can be called," said the judge.
Mrs. Dillingham looked paler than on the day before, as she voluntarily
lifted her veil, and advanced to the stand. She had dreaded the
revelation of her own treachery toward the treacherous proprietor, but
she had sat and heard him perjure himself, until her own act, which had
been performed on behalf of justice, became one of which she could
hardly be ashamed.
"Mrs. Dillingham," said Mr. Balfour, "have you been on friendly terms
with the defendant in this case?"
"I have, sir," she answered. "He has been a frequent visitor at my
house, and I have visited his family at his own."
"Was he aware that the plaintiff was your brother?"
"He was not."
"Has he, from the first, made a confidant of you?"
"In some things--yes.
Pages:
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606