There was no gaiety now. The forces were joined. The battle, which had been an affair of skirmishes before, was now in full cry.
"I only knew what he told me." The voice was quite desperate now.
"And when did he first tell you? The night you were in Paris? Is that when you say?"
"Yes," the answer came, and the President leant forward to be sure that he heard the admission aright.
The big, round, red face of Sir Robert Fyffe was now redder than ever. His eyes blinked as if the lids could hardly veil the silent fire which peered out from them.
"Do you swear that? Please be careful...."
"I think that was the first time."
"I suggest to you," said Sir Robert, turning towards the jury, the President, and then to Peggy—"I suggest to you, Mrs. Admaston, that he had been making passionate love to you for months."
There was an intense silence in the court.
The members of the jury were obviously excited. Different members showed it in different ways. There were men who struggled to give no indication of their feelings, and made effort at an entire lack of expression. Others showed evident and lively interest.