Magistrate. Nonsense! This is trifling! Get to the point.
Bartley. Maybe you don't hold with the clergy so? That is the teaching of the clergy. Maybe you hold with the old people. It is what they do be saying, that the shadow goes wandering, and the soul is tired, and the body is taking a rest—The shadow! [Starts up.] I was nearly sure I saw Jack Smith not ten minutes ago at the corner of the forge, and I lost him again—Was it his ghost I saw, do you think?
Magistrate [to Policeman]. Conscience-struck! He will confess all now!
Bartley. His ghost to come before me! It is likely it was on account of the fork! I to have it and he to have no way to defend himself the time he met with his death!
Magistrate [to Policeman]. I must note down his words. [Takes out notebook.] [To Bartley.] I warn you that your words are being noted.
Bartley. If I had ha' run faster in the beginning, this terror would not be on me at the latter end! Maybe he will cast it up against me at the day of judgment—I wouldn't wonder at all at that.
Magistrate [writing]. At the day of judgment—
Bartley. It was soon for his ghost to appear to me—is it coming after me always by day it will be, and stripping the clothes off in the night time?—I wouldn't wonder at all at that, being as I am an unfortunate man!
Magistrate [sternly]. Tell me this truly. What was the motive of this crime?
Bartley. The motive, is it?