“I should suppose not; but can you give us an idea how long it was—five minutes or five seconds, or more?”
“It was not five minutes.”
“Nearer five seconds—eh?”
“I can’t say exactly. It was not long.”
“And so, Mrs. Pocklington, you deemed it expedient to act promptly. You commenced a most vigorous assault upon the prisoner without stopping to inquire whether he was a thief or a visitor?”
“I was sure he was not a visitor.”
“How could you be sure? Did you see his face when you first struck him?”
“No, his back was towards me.”
“Is it your practice to assault persons with a house-broom?”
“I object to that question,” said the counsel for the prosecution, rising and interrupting his learned brother.