man Crosby and of Mistress Dorothy, did his best to atone for the cruel
law which keeps the prisoner's counsel at such disadvantage. The counsel
for the prosecution had pressed hard on my dear lady, especially in
reference to those farewell words overheard by her, which seem to give
the only (though that, I say, an incredible) clue to what remains the
standing mystery of the event--the missing hand. Then Mr. A---- rose to
cross-examine. He said--

"'During that part of the quarrel when you were present, did the
prisoner use any threats or suggestions of personal violence?'

"'No.'

"'In the fragment of conversation that you overheard at the last, did
you at the time understand the prisoner to be conveying taunts or
threats?'

"'No.'

"'How did you interpret the unaccountable anxiety on the prisoner's part
to shake hands with a man by whom he believed himself to be injured, and
with whom he was quarrelling!'

"'Mr. Manners' tone was such as one uses to a spoilt child. I believed
that he was determined to avoid a quarrel at any price, in deference to
my brother's infirmity and his own promise to me. He was very angry
before Edmund came in; but I believe that afterwards he was shocked and
sobered at the obviously irresponsible condition of my poor brother when
enraged. He had never seen him so before.'