"My lord, I submit," instantly, counsel for the defense took up the challenge, "that on the question of credibility I am entitled----"
The judge allowed the question, and Brunton, muttering, subsided.
Yes, admitted Maggie Peterson, she was separated from her husband.
"And you told his lordship"--his first victory over the enemy made Ronnie suaver than ever--"that you occupied the room opposite to that in which the accused lived with her husband. Can I take it, from that, that you were--and still are--on friendly terms with the accused?"
The witness faltered. "Well, she and me used to speak to one another when we met."
"Then you neither were nor are on particularly good terms with the accused. Now, were you on friendly terms with the accused's husband?"
Again the witness faltered, and Ronnie repeated his question. "I put it to you that you were not on friendly terms with Lucy Towers, but that you were very friendly with William Towers."
"Not very friendly. We were just neighbors."
"Just neighbors, eh?" For the first time since Maggie Peterson had entered the witness-box, Ronnie felt the atmosphere of the court favorable. The jury, and more especially the three women on the jury, had obviously taken his lucky point. He pressed it home: "You say the accused told you, some days before the crime, that she would never be happy until her husband was dead. Why should she tell you that if you and she were not on friendly terms?"
"I dunno," sulkily; "she just said it."