“About six weeks.”
“Why did you leave it?”
“Mr Roland turned me off.”
“Oh! Mr Roland turned you off, did he? Now have the goodness to tell us why?”
“Well, it was just this way. He thocht I wasn’t speaking respectfully to Madam. So he turned me off.”
“Now, be very careful. You are on your oath, mind. Penal servitude is among the consequences of perjury.” Mr Benham to the rescue.
“Really, this is a most unwarrantable aspersion of the witness’ veracity, which my learned friend is hardly justified in making.”
“We shall see,” uncompromisingly retorted the other. “Now, Mr Johnston, let me assist your memory. Did you not on the day you were dismissed accost Mrs Dorrien in the conservatory, and ask for a certain situation for your son?”
“Yes.”
“And hint that it was in your power to injure your mister, if it was refused?”