But why did the big drops of sweat stand on his brow as his eye involuntarily caught those of Mr.Chaffanbrass?
Why did he shuffle his feet, and uneasily move his hands and feet hither and thither, as a man does when he tries in vain to be unconcerned?
Why did he pull his gloves on and off, and throw himself back with that affected air which is so unusual to him?
All the court was looking at him, and every one knew that he was wretched.

Wretched! aye, indeed he was; for the assurance even of an Undy Scott, the hardened man of the clubs, the thrice elected and twice rejected of Tillietudlem, fell prostrate before the well-known hot pincers of Chaffanbrass, the torturer! The first witness called was Henry Norman.

Alaric looked up for a moment with surprise, and then averted his eyes.

Mr.Gitemthruet had concealed from him the fact that Norman was to be called.
He merely proved this, that having heard from Mrs.Woodward, who was the prisoner's mother-in-law, and would soon be his own mother-in-law, that a deficiency had been alleged to exist in the fortune of Madame Jaquetanape, he had, on the part of Mrs.
Woodward, produced what he believed would cover this deficiency, and that when he had been informed that more money was wanting, he had offered to give security that the whole should be paid in six months.

Of course, on him Mr.Chaffanbrass exercised none of his terrible skill, and as the lawyers on the other side declined to cross-examine him, he was soon able to leave the court.