The girl proceeded to describe how she had got up and gone down to the front-door.
‘How was it fastened?’ was the next question.
‘It was on the latch. The bolts were drawn back, and it wasn’t locked nor yet chained.’
‘Did you see whether the latch was up or down?’
‘I object!’
Mr. Tressamer had risen in a fresh burst of indignation.
‘My lord, my friend has distinctly suggested the answer to the witness. I object to her being allowed to say anything about the latch after such a question as that.’
‘I didn’t intend to lead her, my lord,’ said Pollard.
The judge hesitated for awhile between his natural desire to hear the answer and his fear that the witness was not wholly impartial. Perhaps a slight prejudice against Tressamer’s hectoring manner had something to do with his decision.