Kalmar, arrayed in his false black beard, was identified by the Dalmatian and by others as the Polak’s partner in the fatal game of cards.  Staunton had little difficulty in establishing the identity of the black-bearded man who had appeared here and there during the wedding festivities with Kalmar himself.  From the stupid Paulina he skilfully drew evidence substantiating this fact, and though this evidence was ruled out on the ground that she was the prisoner’s wife, the effect upon the jury was not lost.

The most damaging testimony was, of course, that offered by Rosenblatt himself, and this evidence Staunton was clever enough to use with dramatic effect.  Pale, wasted, and still weak, Rosenblatt told his story to the court in a manner that held the crowd breathless with horror.  Never had such a tale been told to Canadian ears.  The only man unmoved was the prisoner.  Throughout the narrative he maintained an attitude of bored indifference.

It was not in vain, however, that O’Hara sought to weaken the effect of Rosenblatt’s testimony by turning the light upon some shady spots in his career.  In his ruthless “sweating” of the witness, the lawyer forced the admission that he had once been the friend of the prisoner; that he had been the unsuccessful suitor of the prisoner’s first wife; that he had been a member of the same Secret Society in Russia; that he had joined the Secret Service of the Russian Government and had given evidence leading to the breaking up of that Society; that he had furnished the information that led to the prisoner’s transportation to Siberia.  At this point O’Hara swiftly changed his ground.

“You have befriended this woman, Paulina Koval?”

“Yes.”

“You have, in fact, acted as her financial agent?”

“I have assisted her in her financial arrangements.  She cannot speak English.”

“Whose house does she live in?”

Rosenblatt hesitated.  “I am not sure.”

“Whose house does she live in?” roared O’Hara, stepping toward him.

“Her own, I think.”

“You think!” shouted the lawyer.  “You know, don’t you?  You bought it for her.  You made the first payment upon it, did you not?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And since that time you have cashed money orders for her that have come month by month?”

Again Rosenblatt hesitated.  “I have sometimes—­”

“Tell the truth!” shouted O’Hara again; “a lie here can be easily traced.  I have the evidence.  Did you not cash the money orders that came month by month addressed to Paulina Koval?”

“I did, with her permission.  She made her mark.”

“Where did the money go?”

“I gave it to her.”

“And what did she do with it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did she not give you money from time to time to make payments upon the house?”

“No.”

“Be careful.  Let me remind you that there is a law against perjury.  I give you another chance.  Did you not receive certain money to make payments on this house?” O’Hara spoke with terrible and deliberate emphasis.