‘Yes, sir.’
‘And that you thought’—here he turned over the page at which he was looking and glanced at the top of the next, so as to give the impression that he was still reading her exact words—‘that the sound came from Miss Owen’s room?’
The witness fell into the trap.
‘I dare say I did,’ she answered.
The judge was equally taken in. He had read the depositions, but had not remembered their contents clearly enough to check the barrister. Tressamer went to another point.
Taking out his watch, he said:
‘I want to test your notion of ten minutes. Will you turn round, with your back to the clock, and tell me when one minute has passed, after I have said the word “Now.”’
All the jurymen and most of the other persons in court took out their watches to check this experiment. The girl turned round, and Tressamer gave the word, ‘Now!’
‘Tick—tick—tick—tick—tick——’
‘Now!’ said the witness, turning quickly round.