"Your witness, Mr. Warner."
He wondered whether it was worth the trouble of rising. Maybe. As a fact-lover, the Sergeant understood the existence of grays between black and white. One dim blur of gray across the clarity of Shields' testimony might stir a slight wonder in a few jurors. "Sergeant, when you found Dr. Chalmers on the back porch, did you speak first?"
"Yes, sir." Quite as polite as he had been to the prosecution.
"He roused at once and answered you?"
"He did, sir." Yes, polite, and well aware of what was coming.
Mildness and indifference were needed here: "What did he say?"
Then the expected noise: "Objection! This conversation wasn't introduced in direct examination."
Mildness, indifference? "Your Honor, I submit that the substance of the conversation was introduced."
"Yes—admissible in cross examination. Objection overruled."
T. J. Hunter shrugged and let it go. A masterly shrug.