“Yes, I swear it agen an’ agen.”
“Once will do, Miss Fulford. It seems almost incredible that you could recognise a man under the circumstances. Pray, did you expect to see the prisoner there?”
“No, I did not.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause he had left the neighbourhood, and hadn’t been seen for a goodish while.”
“I have no doubt that you are speaking conscientiously, Miss Fulford; still at the same time you must not be offended if I suggest that you are mistaken. It would, I dare say, astonish you to learn that the prisoner was not in the neighbourhood on the night of the murder. Perhaps you would not believe this if I proved the fact upon evidence?”
“I should be astonished certainly.”
“Are you about to prove an alibi?” said Lord Ethalwood, in a tone of surprise.
“I am instructed to say that evidence will be offered upon that point,” returned Mr. Slapperton; “and I am, therefore, most anxious to hear all that Miss Fulford has to say. She is positive, but she may be mistaken. It is a very common thing for a witness to be mistaken as far as the identification of an individual is concerned.”
“Ah, that is generally admitted, I think, by most professional gentlemen. You are quite right in your course of cross-examination as far as that is concerned, for it is one of the leading and most important points in the case.”