which were to be commenced at Alston on the day but one following, and they both thought that it might be as well that they should say a word to each other on the subject before they went there.
'I suppose you know nothing about the panel down there, eh?' said Chaffanbrass.
'Well, I have made some inquiries; but I don't think there's anything especial to know;—nothing that matters. If I were you, Mr. Chaffanbrass, I wouldn't have any Hamworth people on the jury, for they say that a prophet is never a prophet in his own country.'
'But do you know the Hamworth people?'
'Oh, yes; I can tell you as much as that. But I don't think it will matter much who is or is not on the jury.'
'And why not?'
If those two witnesses break down—that is, Kenneby and Bolster, no jury can convict her. And if they don't———'
'Then no jury can acquit her. But let me tell you, Aram, that it's not every man put into a jury-box who can tell whether a witness has broken down or not.'
'But from what I hear, Mr. Chaffanbrass, I don't think either of these can stand a chance;—that is, if they both come into your hands.'
'But they won't both come into my hands,' said the anxious hero of the Old Bailey.
'Ah! that's where it is. That's where we shall fail. Mr. Furnival is a great man, no doubt.'
'A very great man,—in his way,' said Mr. Chaffanbrass.
'But if he lets one of those two slip through his fingers the thing's over.'
'You know my opinion,' said Chaffanbrass. 'I think it is all over. If you're right in what you say,—that they're both ready to swear in their direct evidence that they only signed one deed on that day, no vacillation afterwards would have any effect on the judge. It's just possible, you know, that their memory might deceive them.'
'Possible! I should think so. I'll tell yon what, Mr. Chaffanbrass, if the matter was altogether in your hands I should have no fear,—literally no fear.'
'Ah, you're partial, Aram.'
'It couldn't be so managed, could it, Mr. Chaffanbrass? It would be a great thing; a very great thing.' But Mr. Chaffanbrass said that he thought it could not be managed. The success or safety of a client is a very great thing;—in a professional point of view a very great thing indeed. But there is a matter which in legal eyes is greater even than that. Professional etiquette required that the cross-examination of these two most important witnesses should not be left in the hands of the same barrister.
