"It looks bad—mighty bad, Colonel, for us," he observed calmly.
"What do you mean? How bad for us?" insisted Wilkinson, his face still red with the imputation cast upon him.
Durand looked at him long and searchingly, doubtful whether to take him into their confidence or not. Presently he said:
"It's just this, Brother Wilkinson: If an ordinary jury isn't going to believe a man when he tells the truth, what are they going to do when he deliberately lies?"
"But hang it, man," exploded Wilkinson, "I didn't lie; I told the truth."
"Yes, Wilkinson, you told the truth in this Ilingsworth case, but it's your own case we're thinking about. There'll be a jury in that, too."
"You fellows make me tired," growled Wilkinson. "My case—if it ever comes to trial——"
"Oh, don't you worry about that! It will come to trial, all right," put in Flomerfelt, speaking for the first time, and helping himself to a fresh cigar.
"It won't if my overtures to District Attorney Murgatroyd are accepted," retorted Peter V.
The two eminent counsel lifted up their eyes in mild surprise.