Volume Ii Part 37 (1/2)

FROME. Quite so. It's very unfortunate that we've not got him here.

Now can you tell me of the morning on which the discovery of the forgery was made? That would be the 18th. Did anything happen that morning?

c.o.kESON. [With his hand to his ear] I'm a little deaf.

FROME. Was there anything in the course of that morning--I mean before the discovery--that caught your attention?

c.o.kESON. Ye-es--a woman.

THE JUDGE. How is this relevant, Mr. Frome?

FROME. I am trying to establish the state of mind in which the prisoner committed this act, my lord.

THE JUDGE. I quite appreciate that. But this was long after the act.

FROME. Yes, my lord, but it contributes to my contention.

THE JUDGE. Well!

FROME. You say a woman. Do you mean that she came to the office?

c.o.kESON. Ye-es.

FROME. What for?

c.o.kESON. Asked to see young Falder; he was out at the moment.

FROME. Did you see her?

c.o.kESON. I did.

FROME. Did she come alone?

c.o.kESON. [Confidentially] Well, there you put me in a difficulty.

I mustn't tell you what the office-boy told me.

FROME. Quite so, Mr. c.o.keson, quite so----

c.o.kESON. [Breaking in with an air of ”You are young--leave it to me”] But I think we can get round it. In answer to a question put to her by a third party the woman said to me: ”They're mine, sir.”

THE JUDGE. What are? What were?

c.o.kESON. Her children. They were outside.

THE JUDGE. HOW do you know?

c.o.kESON. Your lords.h.i.+p mustn't ask me that, or I shall have to tell you what I was told--and that'd never do.

THE JUDGE. [Smiling] The office-boy made a statement.