But before he could speak, the superintendent of police rose and began to whisper to him, and after a conversation between them, he looked round at the jury, every member of which had evidently been much struck by Ransford's suggestion.
"At this stage," he said, "it will be necessary to adjourn.

I shall adjourn the inquiry for a week, gentlemen.

You will--" Ransford, still standing in the witness-box, suddenly lost control of himself.

He uttered a sharp exclamation and smote the ledge before him smartly with his open hand.
"I protest against that!" he said vehemently.

"Emphatically, I protest! You first of all make a suggestion which tells against me--then, when I demand that a question shall be put which is of immense importance to my interests, you close down the inquiry--even if only for the moment.