COKESON. [Confidentially to the jury, and as if a little surprised at being asked] He was a nice, pleasant-spoken young man. I'd no fault to find with him—quite the contrary. It was a great surprise to me when he did a thing like that.     

       FROME. Did he ever give you reason to suspect his honesty?     

       COKESON. No! To have dishonesty in our office, that'd never do.     

       FROME. I'm sure the jury fully appreciate that, Mr. Cokeson.     

       COKESON. Every man of business knows that honesty's 'the sign qua non'.     

       FROME. Do you give him a good character all round, or do you not?     

       COKESON. [Turning to the JUDGE] Certainly. We were all very jolly and pleasant together, until this happened. Quite upset me.     

       FROME. Now, coming to the morning of the 7th of July, the morning on which the cheque was altered. What have you to say about his demeanour that morning?     

       COKESON. [To the jury] If you ask me, I don't think he was quite compos when he did it.     

       THE JUDGE. [Sharply] Are you suggesting that he was insane?     

       COKESON. Not compos.     

       THE JUDGE. A little more precision, please.     

       FROME. [Smoothly] Just tell us, Mr. Cokeson.     

       COKESON. [Somewhat outraged] Well, in my opinion—[looking at the JUDGE]—such as it is—he was jumpy at the time. The jury will understand my meaning.     

       FROME. Will you tell us how you came to that conclusion?     

       COKESON. Ye-es, I will. I have my lunch in from the restaurant, a chop and a potato—saves time. That day it happened to come just as Mr. Walter How handed me the cheque. Well, I like it hot; so I went into the clerks'       office and I handed the cheque to Davis, the other clerk, and told him to get change. I noticed young Falder 

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