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– I don’t remember his saying it.
    In fact, on further consideration, Mrs Repsch thought that Müller had lent her the money but that she had paid it back to him. She thought he had never spoken of a new hat before she saw him on the 11th with the silk topper.
    Was not her deposition motivated entirely, flashed Parry, by hope of the reward? Had not her husband known Matthews for six years? Did they not see the Matthews quite often? Despite her denials, as Parry swung away from Elizabeth Repsch the unarticulated suggestion that the Matthews and the Repschs were in league against Müller for their own profit hung in the air.
    It was nearing quarter past four when Müller’s friend Hoffa was called. Beyond admitting to seeing Müller with a new chain and hat in the week of 11 July he was of no use to the prosecution. In particular, he had no idea what Müller was wearing when he left Jewry Street on Saturday evening. Responding to Parry’s questions, though, Hoffa said that his friend had announced his intention to sail for America at least a fortnight before he left, that he had seen Müller with enough money for his passage prior to the 9th, that he had been lame for several days and that he believed he had gone to see his sweetheart on the evening of 9 July. He understood that she lived in Camberwell. Parry was interested in the question of funds: what had happened to Müller’s money? Why had he had such difficulty in finding enough to pay for his fare? Hoffa only knew that the prisoner had been to the docks several times early that week and he thought he must have bought the new chain, watch, ring and hat there.
    Finally, harking back to his cross-examination of John Death, Parry asked one more question: had Hoffa asked Müller to try to exchange a chain for him earlier that summer? Yes , said Hoffa, but nothing came of it and he brought it back to me.
    Parry’s questions had succeeded in suggesting the thread of a theory in support of Müller’s innocence. He had backed away from pressing the Buchans on the threats made to their uncle, had declined to argue with the medical men over the cause of Briggs’ death and had not succeeded in getting Kerressey to acknowledge Thomas Lee’s statement. But he had attached considerable importance to the fact of Müller’s lameness and he hadattempted to show that John Death misidentified Müller having done business with him in the months prior to the murder.
    If Hoffa had been the last witness of the day, the jury may have left the court allowing that some small doubt attached itself to the prisoner’s guilt. Following the testimony of John Death, though, Judge Martin had summoned the jeweller’s brother. Robert Death had just arrived and there was sufficient time for him to take the stand. Ignorant of Parry’s line of questioning earlier in the afternoon he was also shown chain Number 3 (Müller’s chain) and denied ever having seen it before: it is such a peculiar one that I should remember it if I had .
    It was a quarter to five o’clock. Robert Death’s corroboration of his brother’s statement that Müller had never been in their shop before 11 July weakened Parry’s contention.
    The court was adjourned, the judges rose and the room began to empty of its chattering crowd. The jury, forbidden from separating and cautioned against speaking to anyone outside their group for the duration of the trial, were sent to lodge in the London Coffee House in nearby Ludgate Hill, where they would be watched by officers of the sheriff.
    Franz Müller was led quietly back through the underground passage to his Newgate cell.

CHAPTER 28
    The Trial: Second Day
    When dawn broke at a little after quarter to seven on Friday 28 October Müller was already dressed and ready, his habitual reserve replaced by an anxious watchfulness. Jonathan Matthews, his most damaging detractor, would be called today. The prosecution would then rest its case – the worst of the trial