Part 45 (2/2)

At last, on examining the _number_ of the cheque, he was convinced that the signature could not be his, _because he had never had a cheque-book with that number in it_. At the same time, his astonishment was great that the clerk should know his handwriting better than he knew it himself.

”I will tell you,” said the clerk, ”how I discovered the forgery. A boy presented this cheque, purporting to have been signed by you. I cashed it. He came again with another. I cashed that. A little while afterwards he came again. My suspicions were then aroused, not by anything in the signature or the cheque, but by the circ.u.mstance of the _frequency of his coming_. When he came the third time, however, I suspended payment until I saw you, because the _line under your signature with which you always finish was not at the same angle_; it went a trifle nearer the letters, and I at once concluded it was a FORGERY.” And so it turned out to be.

”That boy,” said Toole, ”deserves to be taken up by some one, for he has great talent.”

”And in speaking of this matter,” said Sir Henry, ”I may tell you that bankers' clerks are the very best that ever could be invented as tests for handwriting. Their intelligence and accuracy are perfectly astonis.h.i.+ng. They hardly ever make a mistake, and are seldom deceived.

The experts in handwriting are clever enough, and mean to be true; but every _expert_ in a case, be he doctor, caligrapher, or phrenologist, has some unknown quant.i.ty of bias, and must almost of necessity, if he is on the one side or the other, exercise it, however unintentional it may be. The banker speaks _without this influence_, and therefore, if not more likely to be correct, is more reasonably supposed to be so.

”Do you remember, Sir Henry,” asked Toole, ”what the clever rogue Orton wrote in his pocket-book? 'Some has money no brains; some has brains no money; them as has money no brains was made for them as has brains no money.'”

”Just like Roger,” said Sir Henry. This was a catch-phrase in society at the time of the trial.

Some one recited from a number of _Hood's Comic Annual_ the following poem by Tom Hood:--

A BIRD OF ANOTHER FEATHER.[A]

[Footnote A: These lines appeared about 1874, and I have to make acknowledgments to those whom I have been unable to ask for permission to reproduce, and trust they will accept both my apologies and thanks.]

”Yestreen, when I retired to bed, I had a funny dream; Imagination backward sped Up History's ancient stream.

A falconer in fullest dress Was teaching me his art; Of tercel, eyas, hood, and jess, The terms I learnt by heart.

”He flew his falcon to attack The osprey, swan, and hern, And showed me, when he wished it back, The lure for its return.

I thought it was a n.o.ble sport; I struggled to excel My gentle teacher, and, in short, I managed rather well.

”The dream is o'er, and I to-day Return to modern time; But yet I've something more to say, If you will list my rhyme.

I've been a witness in a case For seven long mortal hours, And, cross-examined, had to face The counsel's keenest powers.

”With courteous phrase and winning smiles He led me gently on; I fell a victim to his wiles-- But how he changed anon!

'Oh, you're prepared to swear to that!'

And, 'Now, sir, just take care!'

And, 'Come, be cautious what you're at!'

With questions hard to bear.

”And when he'd turned me inside out, He turned me outside in; I knew not what I was about-- My brain was all a-spin, I'm shaking now with nervous fright, And since I left the court I've changed my dream-opinion quite-- I don't think Hawkins sport!”

Before concluding the evening, Toole said,--

”You remember your joke, Sir Henry, about Miss Brain and her black kids?”

”Not for the world, not for the world, my dear Toole!”

”Not for the world, Sir Henry, not for the world; only for us; not before the boys! You said it was the best joke you ever made.”

”And the worst. But I was not a Judge then.”]

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