There was a silence, and then Mr Merrett, in his most solemn tones, said, “Now, Batchelor, answer this question. You say you were here before any one else arrived this morning?”
“Yes, sir. I had been here about five minutes before Hawkesbury came.”
“What were you doing during that time?”
“I was working at my desk.”
“You are quite sure?”
“Perfectly,” said I, my cheeks burning and my heart swelling within me to be thus spoken to by those whom, with all my faults, I had never once so much as dreamt of deceiving.
“You did not enter this room?”
“No.”
Mr Merrett touched his bell, and Hawkesbury appeared. I scarcely wondered he should try to avoid my eye as he stood at the table waiting.
“Hawkesbury, repeat once more, in Batchelor’s hearing, what you have already told us.”