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gate the matter there. An old woman whom every one called
* Auntie and who had lived there for a long time, was esteemed
among her neighbours as a woman of integrity. On this account
whenever any vacant houses in that neighbourhood were to be
let, she was employed to look after the renting of them. Thus
it was through her hands that Sung rented his house. A subpoena
was accordingly served on this old woman to appear in Court
and to give evidence against Sz. On being tried the latter
stated his case as before but the former affirmed that when
the house was to be let, Sz came in a sedan chair and, after
having paid the chair coolies twenty cents, sent them away. Next
he called to the woman herself and asked her what the rent
would be. Having told him the amount, she proceeded to open all
the doors. Sz then went in and surveyed the place carefully.
After this he went up to the roof and had a good look all
round. This done he paid her some money as earnest and told her
to get the watchman to clear out the place as soon as possible.
Next day Sung moved in. His Worship asked Sz what he had to
say to witness' statement. To this he replied that the woman,
having grown stupid and become partially blind from old age,
had made a mistake in recognising him. He never did go to see
the house; neither did he pay any earnest money. But after Sung
had moved in, he did not go to visit him in a chair. Anything
else he knew nothing about. His Worship finding he could ex-
tract no further statement from Sz, was obliged to order him
to be again taken back to the prison. His Worship then told the
old woman to go home, giving her to understand that if sent
for
9