"He used very strong language, did he not?"
"Very strong."
"Did you think that he was justified in using such strong language?"
"Certainly not; I thought that it was most improper."
"And do you think that a gentleman accosted so improperly is to be greatly blamed if he uses strong language in return?"
"It would no doubt have been better if he had held his tongue at the time, and have called him to account afterwards."
"Still the provocation was very strong, Captain Downes, and you could not altogether blame him."
"I did not blame him at all," the witness said curtly.
"And what did you think when Mr. Faulkner suddenly struck his prisoner in the face?"
"Am I to answer that question?" the witness asked the bench.