"Come, come, sir. That's no answer."
"The son of the house insulted me, and I knocked him down."
Such a sensational reply fairly took the wind out of counsel's sails.
Amid a stifled murmur of excitement he strove to collect himself.
"You—er—assaulted him?"
"I did."
"Rather hasty, aren't you?"
"I don't think so."
"We shall see. Now, upon the night in question—the night of the burglary with which my client is charged—where had you been?"
"To a private house."
"From which you, a footman, return at four in the morning?"