There would be another
and a more formal examination before the committal of the prisoner for
trial--if committed he should be.
A few unimportant questions were put to Hamish, and then he was asked
whether he saw the letter in question.
"I saw a letter which I suppose to have been the one," he replied. 'It
was addressed to Mr. Robert Galloway, at Ventnor."
"Did you observe your brother take it into Mr. Galloway's private
room?"
"Yes," answered Hamish. "In putting the desks straight before departing
for college, my brother carried the letter into Mr. Galloway's room and
left it there. I distinctly remember his doing so."
"Did you see the letter after that?"
"No."
"How long did you remain alone while your brother was away?"
"I did not look at my watch," irritably returned Hamish, who had spoken
resentfully throughout, as if some great wrong were being inflicted
upon him in having to speak at all.
"But you can guess at the time?"
"No, I can't," shortly retorted Hamish. "And 'guesses' are not
evidence."
"Was it ten minutes?"
"It may have been. I know he seemed to be back almost as soon as he had
gone."
"Did any person--clerk, or stranger, or visitor, or otherwise--come
into the office during his absence from it?"
"No."
"No person whatever?"
"No person whatever. I think," continued Hamish, volunteering an
opinion upon the subject, although he knew it was out of all rule and
precedent to do so, "that there is a great deal of unprofitable fuss
being made about the matter.
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