“Ah!” said Potts, “now the murder’s out. That’s what I thought. Don’t you suppose I saw through you when you first began to speak so mysteriously? I knew that you had learned some wonderful story, and that you were going to trot it out at the right time. But if you think you’re going to bully me you’ll find it hard work.
“Cigole is in my power,” said Langhetti, fiercely.
“And so you think I am, too?” sneered Potts.
“Partly so.”
“Why?”
“Because he was an accomplice of yours in the Despard murder.”
“So he says, no doubt; but who’ll believe him?”
“He is going to turn Queen’s evidence!” said Langhetti, solemnly.
“Queen’s evidence!” returned Potts, contemptuously, “and what’s his evidence worth—the evidence of a man like that against a gentleman of unblemished character?”
“He will be able to show what the character of that gentleman is,” rejoined Langhetti.