She turned to him and spoke calmly, quietly:
“I am quite certain. That is not the man.”
“Damn!” said Chalmers. “The girl has failed us, after all. Take him away, sergeant!”
Denis Ryan had covered his face with his hands when Mary spoke. He turned to follow the sergeant from the room, a man bent and beaten down with utter shame.
“Stop!” said Chalmers. He turned fiercely to Mary. “Will you swear—will you take your oath he is not the man?”
“I swear it,” said Mary.
“You’re swearing to a lie,” said Chalmers, “and you know it.”
Major Whiteley was cooler and more courteous.
“Thank you, Miss Drennan,” he said. “We need not trouble you any further.”
Mary Drennan rose, bowed to the two men, and left the room.