This was an audacious move.

What was coming?
What would be the answer of the man who was believed not only to have made himself the possessor of this ring, but to have taken a most strange and uncanny method of disposing of it afterward?
In the breathless hush which followed this first involuntary expression of feeling, Arthur's voice rose, harsh but steady in this reply: "I saw it when the police showed it to me, and asked me if I could identify it." "Was that the only time you have seen it up to the present moment ?" Instinctively, the witness's right hand rose; it was as if he were mentally repeating his oath before he uttered coldly and with emphasis, though without any show of emotion: "It is." The universal silence gave way to a universal sigh of excitement and relief.

District Attorney Fox's lips curled with an imperceptible smile of disdain, which might have impressed the jury if they had been looking his way; but they were all looking with eager and interested eyes at the prisoner, who had just uttered this second distinct and unequivocal denial.
Mr.Moffat noted this, and his own lip curled, but with a very different show of feeling from that which had animated his distinguished opponent.
Without waiting for the present sentiment to cool, he proceeded immediately with his examination: "You swear that you have seen this ring but once since the night of your sister's death, and that was when it was shown you in the coroner's office ?" "I do." "Does this mean that it was not in your possession at any time during that interim ?" "It certainly does." "Mr.Cumberland, more than one witness has testified to the fact of your having been seen to place your hand in the casket of your sister, before the eyes of the minister and of others attending her funeral.

Is this true ?" "It is." "Was not this a most unusual thing to do ?" "Perhaps.

I was not thinking about that.