“Nearly two years.”
“Nearly two years in the service of a man you suspected of murder. I should say you had a most elastic conscience, Mr Johnston, were it not that your conduct looks very like an attempt to extract hush money. Now, has your master ever had occasion to find fault with you previously?”
“He has once or twice said I must be more ceevil. He was a mighty partecklar gentleman.”
“Quite so. And did you not, on a former occasion, attempt to take legal proceedings against the accused, because his dog bit you?”
“I did. But that was in the late General Dorrien’s time.”
“And you were not a favourite with the accused at any time?”
“Well—no.”
“That I can easily understand,” rejoined Mr Windgate, with bitter significance. “The marvel is that he kept you for a single day.”
“My learned friend is not justified in making such reflections on the witness,” objected Mr Benham.
“My learned friend need not mind. I have now done with this witness, and I devoutly thank Heaven for it,” retorted Mr Windgate.