“Were the others there when you arrived?”
“No, sir.”
“You had to wait for them? How long?”
“I—I don’t know exactly; about twenty minutes, I guess.”
“Where did you wait?”
“On the steps of Oxford, sir.”
“I see. You had the paint with you then?”
“No, sir! I didn’t have anything to do with the paint. You—you don’t understand, Mr. Collins!”
“I’m trying to, my boy, but you won’t help me. You acknowledge that you took part in the affair—”
“No, sir, really! I had nothing to do with it. I went out to try and stop them.”