“A likely story!”
Clare made no reply.
“Answer me directly.”
“Please, sir, you told me not to speak unless you asked me a question.”
“I said, ‘A likely story!’ which meant, ‘Do you expect me to believe that?’”
“Of course I do, sir.”
“Why?”
“Because it is true.”
“How am I to believe that?”
“I don’t know, sir. I only know I’ve got to speak the truth. It’s the person who hears it that’s got to believe it, ain’t it, sir?”