“What proof are we to have that you are not lying now?”
“I am not lying. My conscience gave me no rest.”
“It will give you more, I suppose, if you will have succeeded in swearing away the life of an innocent woman. Yes, yes!—Exactly how long did Mrs. Peele remain in the lavatory?”
“I cannot remember. Five or ten minutes.”
“State the exact time.”
“Perhaps five.”
“And a few moments later when she ran into your room you pretended to be asleep: Why did you assume sleep; what reason had you for lying at that time?”
“I had dropped off.”
“You had been sufficiently wide awake five minutes before to note precisely all these other things, and then had promptly fallen into a sound sleep. Is that your usual habit?”
“Yes, sir.”