H.—3

159

3512. Will you tell me that you did not take it to your own house many months ago ?—Yes, some months ago. 3513. And did it not remain at your own house for some months ?—Some little time ; I cannot say exactly. 3514. Now, tell me this, Mr. De Castro : Did you not bring that lace down from your own house yesterday morning ? Why hesitate ?—Yes, I brought it down from my own house yesterday morning. It had been there some months. 3515. You brought this lace down from your own house yesterday morning ?—Yes, and put it in my drawer. 3516. Yes, you put it in your office drawer only yesterday ?—Yes. 3517. Then, the lace was not in your drawer when you told us it was ?—I have been ill, and had not an opportunity to bring it back again. 3518. You have had it at your own house for many months ?—I do not recollect. 3519. Six months? —I do not think so. 3520. Will you swear you have not had that lace at your own house for six months ?—I will not swear. 3521. Then, you may have had it many months?— Yes. 3522. What did you take it to your own house for ?—To know what the value of it was. 3523. Have you an Expert in lace at your own house ? —Because ladies know the value. 3524. Have you taken anything else to your own house to ascertain the value ? — [No answer.] 3525. Are you sure that you never took or sent that missing bracelet we want to know more about to your house?—On my sacred oath I am perfectly certain I know nothing of it. 3526. Then, you told the Commissioners yesterday that this lace was in your office drawer the whole time—l repeat, that both yesterday and to-day you said that this lace was in your drawer in your writing-table in the office the whole time from the time the jewellery was sold, locked up, and in your custody? —In my possession. 3527. In your drawer—you said in your drawer ?- —In my possession. 3528. In your evidence yesterday you said in your drawer?— For a considerable time. 3529. But also, for a considerable time it was up at your own house ? —On account of my illness I have not been able to bring it back. 3530. If the Commissioners had never made the searching inquiry they have in respect of this lace, would it not be still at your house?— No. Of course, lam not officially back here. I should bring it back as soon as I came back. 3531. But there is no record of this lace in this private, secret record-book of yours. It is, I presume, among the " &c.s " ?—" Box of jewellery, &c." 3532. Then, the lace was in the " &c." ?—Yes. 3533. Then, you do take some of the " &c.s " to your own house?—No ; it is an exceptional case. 3534. Then you did call this " &c." ?—Yes. 3535. Then we will call this lace " &c," just to earmark it?— Yes. 3536. And you kept it at your own house for some months?— Because I have been away ill. 3537. You brought this down yesterday morning and put it into your drawer ?—Yes. 3538. Then would you have brought this lace yesterday morning if you had not known that the Commissioners were searching vigilantly for it ?—Yes ; I intended to have brought it the morning before. I did not want it. I had not the slightest use for it or anything of the sort. I brought it home just to satisfy myself if it was of any value. 3539. At what time are you in the habit, even in the best of health, of coming to your office in the morning? —It is nearly half-past 9. 3540. It is very unusual for you to come before 9 ? —Between 9 and half-past 9. 3541. Why were you here yesterday at 9?— l was not. 3542. You were in this building yesterday morning at 9 ?—I was not in this building until close upon 10. 3543. When you first came up into this room a few clays ago to interview the Commissioners, do you remember making the remark that you hoped the Commissioners would be merciful with you?— Yes; I asked Mr. Loughrey, as my head is in such a state, any severe questioning makes my head ache. 3544. Was that your only reason?— Yes. Last night I hardly had any sleep, and I had to see Dr. Collins. 3545. Do you ever dream about jewellery? —No. 3546. Then you have never seen phantoms standing by your bedside demanding their watches and other jewellery ? —No, I am sure. 3547. Do you never expect to see those sort of phantoms ?—No. 3548. Now, you wrapped up this lace yesterday morning in a glazed brown-paper wrapper, and you put the name of the estate on it ?—Yes. 3549. What did you do with the wrapper when you opened it in this room ?—I threw it away. 3550. You took it downstairs ? —Yes ; I only took it out of your way. 3551. Then you took from the Commissioners' room the brown-paper wrapper and the red-tape ? —I did not take the red-tape. 3552. You took the brown-paper wrapper, with your handwriting upon it, away with you yesterday from this room ?—Yes ; I ..thought it was in your way —a piece of waste-paper. 3553. You thought the paper was in our way ? What size was it ? —A piece of brown paper about Ift. square. 3554. Why did you think a foot square of "brown-paper was in the Commissioners' way ?—I thought it was a piece of waste-paper.