Part 61 (1/2)
”And you now identify them as the same jewels which you found in his possession?”
”Hang it, haven't I said so before?”
”Pray, Mr. Folliard, keep your temper, if you please, and answer me civilly and as a gentleman. Suffer me to ask you are there any other family jewels in your possession?”
”Yes, the Folliard jewels?”
”The Folliard jewels! And how do they differ in denomination from those found upon the prisoner?”
”Those found upon the prisoner are called the Bingham jewels, from the fact of my wife, who was a Bingham, having brought them into our family.”
”And pray, did not your wife always consider those jewels as her own private property?”
”Why, I believe she did.”
”And did she not, at her death-bed, bequeath those very jewels to her daughter, the present Miss Folliard, on the condition that she too should consider them as her private property?”
”Why, I believe she did; indeed, I am sure of it, because I was present at the time.”
”In what part of the house were those jewels deposited?”
”In a large oak cabinet that stands in a recess in my library.”
”Did you keep what you call the Folliard jewels there?”
”Yes, all our jewellery was kept there.”
”But there was no portion of the Folliard jewellery touched?”
”No; but the Bingham sets were all taken, and all found upon the prisoner.”
”What was your opinion of the prisoner's circ.u.mstances?”
”I could form no opinion about them.”
”Had he not the reputation of being an independent man?”
”I believe such was the impression.”
”In what style of life did he live?”
”Certainly in the style of a gentleman.”
”Do you think, then, that necessity was likely to tempt a man of independence like him to steal your daughter's jewels?”
”I'd advise you, Sergeant Fox, not to put me out of temper; I haven't much to spare just now. What the deuce are you at?”
”Will you answer my question?”
”No, I don't think it was.”