The counsel for the defence made an immediate attack on the theories of the prosecution, and it told.
For the prosecution had suggested that Morris's presence at the scene of the murder the day after was suspicious, as if he had come back uneasily and of an unquiet conscience.

If that was so, Mr.Taynton's presence there, who had been the witness who proved the presence of the other, was suspicious also.

What had he come there for?
In order to throw the broken pieces of Morris's stick into the bushes?
These inferences were of course but suggested in the questions counsel asked Mr.Taynton in the further cross-examination of this morning, and perhaps no one in court saw what the suggestion was for a moment or two, so subtly and covertly was it conveyed.

Then it appeared to strike all minds together, and a subdued rustle went round the court, followed the moment after by an even intenser silence.
Then followed a series of interrogations, which at first seemed wholly irrelevant, for they appeared to bear only on the business relations between the prisoner and the witness.

Then suddenly like the dim light at the end of a tunnel, where shines the pervading illuminating sunlight, a little ray dawned.
"You have had control of the prisoner's private fortune since 1886 ?" "Yes." "In the year 1896 he had L8,000 or thereabouts in London and North-Western Debentures, L6,000 in Consols, L7,000 in Government bonds of South Australia ?" "I have no doubt those figures are correct." "A fortnight ago you bought L8,000 of London and North-Western Debentures, L6,000 in Consols, L7,000 in Government bonds of South Australia ?" Mr.Taynton opened his lips to speak, but no sound came from them.
"Please answer the question." If there had been a dead hush before, succeeding the rustle that had followed the suggestions about the stick, a silence far more palpable now descended.