"Why, sir! you are an admirable witness! I did not anticipate such candor. We are getting at the matter bravely. We have your confession, then, that you do not remember distinctly the events that occurred the day before your attack, and your assertion that you are ready to believe and accept the testimony of credible witnesses in regard to those events."
"Yes, sir."
"Did you ever know Nicholas Johnson and James Ramsey?"
"Yes, sir."
"Where did you see them last?"
"In Mr. Belcher's library."
"On what occasion, or, rather, at what time?"
"I have sad reason to remember both the occasion and the date, sir. Mr. Belcher had determined to get my signature to an assignment, and had brought me to his house on another pretext entirely. I suppose he had summoned these men as witnesses."
"Where are these men now?"
"Unhappily, they are both dead."