The policeman imagined the lawyer had said “loosened.”
“I mean that the first account he ever gave of this accident referred to the pitchfork, and his subsequent statements were to the same effect.”
“Oah, yes. There’s no denyin’ that.”
“And you found the fork lying exactly where he described its position?”
“Why, yes; but he was a desp’rate lang time i’ studdyin’ t’ matter oot afore he’s speak.”
“Do you suggest that someone placed the fork there by his instructions?”
“Noa, sir. Most like he’d seen it there hissen.”
“Then why do you refuse to accept his statement that an accident took place?”
“Because I f’und his footprints where he ran across t’ garden te t’ spot where he was picked up.”
“Footprints! After a month of fine weather!”