behind that of B I will go presently. At the moment they are not important. I ask you, instead, to give the best of your attention to the following highly significant facts. The novel in question was published on the 15th July last. This manuscript (which is a copy of the original) was deposited by me in my locker here on the 31st of March last. It was, before being put away, sealed and dated by the secretary of this Safe Deposit, and the circumstance of its being so sealed and deposited was recorded by him in his books. If, then, I can now produce to you this manuscript, with its seals unbroken, I believe that I am right in saying that it will prove to be a rather convincing piece of evidence in favour of the claim by A, in whose handwriting it is, as against those of B to be the true author of the work in question."
