Did he strike
matches as he went out?"
"No."
"Then how are you able to swear so positively as to his identity in
the dark?"
Kemp considered a moment before replying.
"Because I know him well and I was close to him," he said at length. "I
was close enough to him almost to touch him. I knew him by his walk, and
by the look of him. It was him right enough, I'll swear to that."
"I put it to you, witness," persisted Counsel, "that you could not
positively identify a man in a plantation at that time of night. Do you
still swear it was Mr. Holymead?"
"I do," replied Kemp doggedly.
"What did you do then?"
"I stayed where I was."
"What for?"
"I don't know. I didn't have any particular reason. I just stayed there
watching."
"Did you think the prisoner might return?"
"No," replied the witness quickly. "Why should I think that?"
"How long did you stay watching the house?"
"It might be a matter of ten minutes more."
"And the prisoner didn't return during that time?"
"No," replied the witness emphatically.
"What did you do after that?"
"I went to the Tube station."
"Prisoner might have returned after you left?"
"I suppose he might," replied the witness reluctantly.
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