"I believe that it is really the button that I lost," he said.
Although he endeavored not to betray his anguish, he felt that his voice trembled, and that it had a hoarse sound. Then he wished to explain this emotion.
"This is a truly terrible position for me," he said.
The judge did not reply.
"But because I lost a button at Monsieur Caffie's, it does not follow that it was torn off in a struggle."
"You have your theory, and you will make the most of it, but this is not the place. I have only one more question to ask: By what button have you replaced the one you lost?"
"By the first one I came across."
"Who sewed it on?"
"I did."
"Are you in the habit of sewing on your buttons yourself?"