May I ask," he said, "if any one else in the school will witness to having seen Williams use these wafers ?" No one spoke, and Barker, whose malice seemed to have been changed into uneasiness, sat down.
Upton was the next witness.

Gibson began--"You have seen a good deal of Williams ?" "Yes," said Upton smiling.
"Have you ever heard him express any opinion of Mr.Gordon ?" "Often." "Of what kind ?" "Dislike and contempt," said Upton, amidst general laughter.
"Have you ever heard him say anything which implied a desire to injure him ?" "The other day Mr.Gordon gave him a Georgic as an imposition, and I heard Williams say that he would like to pay him out." This last fact was new to the school, and excited a great sensation.
"When did he say this ?" "On Friday afternoon." Upton had given his evidence with great reluctance, although, being simply desirous that the truth should come out, he concealed nothing that he knew.

He brightened up a little when Russell rose to cross-examine him.
"Have you ever known Williams to do any mean act ?" "Never." "Do you consider him a boy _likely_ to have been guilty on this occasion ?" "Distinctly the reverse.

I am convinced of his innocence." The answer was given with vehement emphasis, and Eric felt greatly relieved by it.
One or two other boys were then called on as witnesses to the great agitation which Eric had shown during the investigation in the school-room, and then Gibson, who was a sensible, self-contained fellow, said, "I have now done my part.

I have shown that the accused had a grudge against Mr.Gordon at the time of the occurrence, and had threatened to be revenged on him; that he was the last boy in the room during the time when the offence must have been committed; that the handwriting is known to resemble his, and that the ink and wafers employed were such as he, and he only, was known to possess.