Squaring his huge shoulders, the captain said with a self-satisfied chuckle:
"It took us five hours to get him to own up, but we got it out of him at last."
The doctor was still busy with his examination.
"He seems to be asleep. Worn out, I guess. Five hours, yes—that's your method, captain." Shaking his head, he went on: "I don't believe in these all-night examinations and your 'third degree' mental torture. It is barbarous. When a man is nervous and frightened his brain gets so benumbed at the end of two or three hours' questioning on the same subject that he's liable to say anything, or even believe anything. Of course you know, captain, that after a certain time the law of suggestion commences to operate and——"
The captain turned to his sergeant and laughed:
"The law of suggestion? Ha, ha! That's a good one! You know, doctor, them theories of yours may make a hit with college students and amateur professors, but they don't go with us. You can't make a man say 'yes' when he wants to say 'no'."
Dr. Bernstein smiled.
"I don't agree with you," he said. "You can make him say anything, or believe anything—or do anything if he is unable to resist your will."
The captain burst into a hearty peal of laughter.
"Ha, ha! What's the use of chinnin'? We've got him to rights. I tell you, doctor, no newspaper can say that my precinct ain't cleaned up. My record is a hundred convictions to one acquittal. I catch 'em with the goods when I go after 'em!"