At last they arrived at a building where many people and some policemen were standing round the open doors. They passed this entrance, however, and went round to another. Her companion then conducted Elsie through some passages into a great bare, close-smelling hall, where there were a good many people waiting about, and some policemen with their hats off, which made them look much less terrible than they did in the streets, Elsie thought. She was too bewildered and frightened to look about her, and see what the place was like. The gentleman at her side took her hand, and led her forward. She heard some one say, "Bring a chair or a stool, and let her stand on it;" and, looking up, she saw an old gentleman with white hair sitting at a table, at the end of which was another younger gentleman, writing.
The gentleman with the white hair bent over, and spoke to her. "What is your name?" he asked.
Elsie hesitated, looking up with an appealing glance at the officer standing by her side. Then when the question was repeated, she stammered, "Effie Donaldson, please."
"Ha!" said the old gentleman. "Effie Donaldson, is it? Do you know what an oath is?"
"Yes, sir," Elsie timidly replied.
"Now you must take your oath," he went on, "that you will answer me truly whatever I ask you; and I hope you understand that if you tell a falsehood after that, you will not only be doing a most wicked thing, but that you can be kept in prison for it."
Elsie began to tremble violently at this dreadful warning. She took a swift glance round, to see if Mrs. Donaldson or the old gentleman were anywhere near, but could see nothing of either.
The officer who had accompanied her, and stood by all the time, seemed to understand.
"They are not in court," he said, in a low tone. "Just you speak the truth, and you'll be all right."
He then handed her a Bible, which she was told to kiss; and he said some words which he bade her repeat.