MAYOR. Miss Maud Builder, will you tell us what you know of this—er— occurrence?
MAUD. [Rising; with eyes turning here and there] Must I?
MAYOR. I'm afraid you must.
MAUD. [After a look at her father, who never turns his eyes from the
MAYOR's face] I—I wish to withdraw the charge of striking me, please.
I—I never meant to make it. I was in a temper—I saw red.
MAYOR. I see. A—a domestic disagreement. Very well, that charge is withdrawn. You do not appear to have been hurt, and that seems to me quite proper. Now, tell me what you know of the assault on the constable. Is his account correct?
MAUD. [Timidly] Ye-yes. Only—
MAYOR. Yes? Tell us the truth.
MAUD. [Resolutely] Only, I don't think my father hit the constable.
I think the stick did that.
MAYOR. Oh, the stick? But—er—the stick was in 'is 'and, wasn't it?
MAUD. Yes; but I mean, my father saw red, and the constable saw red, and the stick flew up between them and hit him in the eye.