A silence ensued, which Roden Marsh was the first to break.
"I wholly fail to see how, in the eye of the law, a man can be held to be even partially accountable for anything that may happen, or any deed he may commit, while in a state of somnambulism."
Drelincourt lighted another cigarette before speaking. Then he said: "But where are my witnesses to prove I was in that state when this morning's tragedy took place?"
"For the matter of that, where are the witnesses to prove you had any hand at all in the affair?"
"I know of none."
"Then, as it seems to me, all you and I have to do is simply to keep our own counsel, and let the affair work itself out as best it may."
To this Drelincourt apparently found nothing to reply.
Roden lapsed into a brown study.
"No," he said, after a pause, with a shake of his head, "neither legally nor morally can you be held accountable for this morning's work."
Drelincourt flicked the ash off his cigarette.