But no one saw the slip of paper which, a moment later, was handed to Alfred Barton, and by him passed to Mr.Sutherland.

There was a hurried filling out of blanks lying among the papers on the table, a messenger was despatched, two or three men edged themselves into the crowd in Hobson's vicinity,--and that was all! Promptly at the time appointed the case was called.

There was perfect silence throughout the court-room as Mr.Sutherland arose, holding in one hand the ancient will, and with breathless attention the crowd listened for the opening words of what was to prove one of the fiercest and most bitter contests on record, and of whose final termination even the participants themselves little dreamed.
After a few preliminaries, Mr.Sutherland said, addressing the court,-- "Before proceeding farther, your honor, I will give orders for the subpoena, as a witness in this case, of one Richard Hobson, alias Dick Carroll." Then turning towards the crowd in the rear of the courtroom, he added, "Let the papers be served at once." There was a stir of excitement and a sudden craning of necks in the direction indicated by the attorney's glance, where three men had sprung forward in obedience to his orders.
Hobson, at the first mention of his name, had glanced quickly about him as though seeking some means of escape, but on hearing the alias--the name he had supposed unknown in America--he paused for an instant, seemingly half paralyzed with terror.

But the sight of the approaching sheriff broke the spell, and he made a sudden lunge through the crowd in the direction of an open window.

His progress was speedily checked by one of the deputies, however, and after a short, ineffectual struggle he sullenly submitted.
"Bring the witness forward," said Mr.Sutherland, with his calm, slow smile; "we may call upon him before long, and he would probably prefer a seat convenient to the witness stand." As he was seated opposite and facing the English party, it was noted that the face of the old servant lighted up with a look of recognition, and he watched the new-comer with evident interest.
Hobson, having carefully avoided the eyes of both Alfred Barton and the private secretary, soon became aware of Wilson's scrutiny, and after regarding him fixedly for a moment seemed suddenly to recognize him in turn, and also to realize at the same time the import of his presence there, which, apparently, did not tend to lessen his agitation.
Slowly Mr.Sutherland unfolded the document he held, yellow with age, the edges of its folds so frayed and tattered as to render the writing in some places almost illegible.