'You'll be surprised to hear that when the woman was found she wasn't dead.'
George did not move, but his cheeks became if possible more haggard. He was horribly frightened.
'She didn't die for nearly an hour.'
There was a very short silence. It seemed to George that they must hear the furious beating of his heart.
'Was she able to say anything?'
'She said you'd shot her,'
'What a damned lie!'
'It appears that you were—playing the fool with her. I don't know why you quarrelled. You took out your revolver and fired point blank.'
George laughed.
'It's just like these beastly niggers to tell a stupid lie like that. You wouldn't believe them rather than me, would you? After all, my word's worth more than theirs.'