Dr.Mellish had absolutely forbidden his patient to undergo the fatigue and excitement of giving evidence himself in court that day.

But his depositions had been taken at his bedside, were sworn to by him, and were now placed before the magistrate by the prosecuting counsel, and the facts they revealed were certainly as remarkable as they were brief and enigmatical.
"As they were read by Mr.Pepys, an awed and expectant hush seemed to descend over the large crowd gathered there, and all necks were strained eagerly forward to catch a glimpse of a tall, elegant woman, faultlessly dressed and wearing exquisite jewellery, but whose handsome face wore, as the prosecuting counsel read her husband's deposition, a more and more ashen hue.
"'This, your Honour, is the statement made upon oath by Mr.Francis Morton,' commenced Mr.Pepys in that loud, sonorous voice of his which sounds so impressive in a crowded and hushed court.

'"I was obliged, for certain reasons which I refuse to disclose, to make a payment of a large sum of money to a man whom I did not know and have never seen.

It was in a matter of which my wife was cognisant and which had entirely to do with her own affairs.

I was merely the go-between, as I thought it was not fit that she should see to this matter herself.