"Pshaw! What answer can you make to my statement?"
Monsieur Judas smiled blandly, shrugged his shoulders, and spread out his lean hands with a deprecating gesture.
"Me! Alas! I can say nothing but that you have as strong a case against me as you had against your dear friend, Monsieur Roger."
Fanks reddened angrily. He was aware that he had blundered two or three times during the case, but still it was not pleasant to be taunted thus by a smiling adversary who indulged in fine irony.
"You led me to believe Axton was guilty," he said, meekly.
"I? Eh, it is a mistake. I but told what I knew. It is not my fault if the affair reflects upon Monsieur Roger."
"Do you know I can arrest you on suspicion of murder?"
"Truly! Then do so. I am ready."
Fanks bit his nails in impotent wrath, feeling himself quite helpless to deal with this man. He could not arrest him because he had not sufficient evidence to warrant him doing so. He could not force him to speak, as he had no means of commanding him. Altogether he was completely at the mercy of Judas in every way. Judas saw this and chuckled.
"Can I tell monsieur anything else?"