“For the past sixteen years.”
“When were you admitted to the bar?”
“In 1860.”
“And you have ever since been engaged, I take it, either in the practice of the law before the bar or in its administration from the bench?”
“Exceptin' for the four years from April, 1861, to June, 1866.”
Up until now Durham had been sparring, trying to fathom the probable trend of the old judge's expected meanderings. But in the answer to the last question he thought he caught the cue and, though none save those two knew it, thereafter it was the witness who led and the questioner who followed his lead blindly.
“And where were you during those four years?”
“I was engaged, suh, in takin' part in the war.”
“The War of the Rebellion?”
“No, suh,” the old man corrected him gently but with firmness, “the War for the Southern Confederacy.”