"Well," growled the captain, "mistakes sometimes happen."
Judge Brewster stopped and laid down his eyeglasses.
"Ah, that is precisely the point of view we take in this matter! Now, captain, in the present case, on the night of the confession did you show young Mr. Jeffries the pistol with which he was supposed to have shot Robert Underwood?"
Captain Clinton screwed up his eyes as if thinking hard. Then, turning to his sergeant, he said:
"Yes. I think I did. Didn't I, Maloney?"
"Your word is sufficient," said the judge quickly. "Did you hold it up?"
"Think I did."
"Do you know if there was a light shining on it?" asked the judge quickly.
At this point, Dr. Bernstein, who had been an attentive listener, bent eagerly forward. Much depended on Captain Clinton's answer—perhaps a man's life.
"Don't know—might have been," replied the chief carelessly.