His way evidently made clearer by Marvin's advice, Bill sauntered slowly back to Hammond.
"If he was on the railroad's property, what did you have to do with it?" he asked.
"Oh, that's easy enough!" said Hammond, nonchalantly crossing one leg over the other. "I went at the request of the president of the road."
Bill grinned. "You sold the railroad the land he was trespassing on, didn't you?"
Thomas broke in with an endeavor to show that the question was irrelevant, but Townsend, knowing Bill's natural acumen, felt that the question did have some real connection with the case.
"Mr. Thomas," he said, "you and your witness have been accused of conspiracy. If I were you, I would allow him to answer Mr. Jones."
Thomas knew that he was sparring for his life and he didn't intend to let the question get by if he could help it, so he tried another subterfuge.
"Your Honor," he deplored, his voice hoarse with anger, "I don't propose to defend the witness and myself from such a ridiculous charge at this time. We are not on trial. This is a divorce action." He glared at Marvin, pulling his cuffs angrily, in a way that he had, down over his wrists.
But the judge's opinion was unchanged. "If there is any conspiracy about this action, the court wants to know it. Answer the question."
With an insulting drawl, Hammond did as he was bid.