“Miss Derek and—the victim herself. . . .” He nearly broke down, unable to repeat the girl’s name.
“Miss Quested herself definitely accuses him of——”
He nodded and turned his face away.
“Then she’s mad.”
“I cannot pass that last remark,” said the Collector, waking up to the knowledge that they differed, and trembling with fury. “You will withdraw it instantly. It is the type of remark you have permitted yourself to make ever since you came to Chandrapore.”
“I’m excessively sorry, sir; I certainly withdraw it unconditionally.” For the man was half mad himself.
“Pray, Mr. Fielding, what induced you to speak to me in such a tone?”
“The news gave me a very great shock, so I must ask you to forgive me. I cannot believe that Dr. Aziz is guilty.”
He slammed his hand on the table. “That—that is a repetition of your insult in an aggravated form.”
“If I may venture to say so, no,” said Fielding, also going white, but sticking to his point. “I make no reflection on the good faith of the two ladies, but the charge they are bringing against Aziz rests upon some mistake, and five minutes will clear it up. The man’s manner is perfectly natural; besides, I know him to be incapable of infamy.”