‘Because, during the time they were on the schooner, it is plain they got very fond of this man Jonsen, and of his lieutenant, the man called Otto.’ Mathias was incredulous. ‘Is it possible for children to be mistaken in a man’s whole nature like that?’ The look of irony on Thornton’s face attained an intensity that was almost diabolical. ‘I think it is possible,’ he said, ‘even for children to make such a mistake.’ ‘But this ... affection: it is highly improbable.’ ‘It is a fact.’ Mathias shrugged. After all, a criminal lawyer is not concerned with facts. He is concerned with probabilities. It is the novelist who is concerned with facts, whose job it is to say what a particular man did do on a particular occasion: the lawyer does not, cannot be expected to go further than to show what the ordinary man would be most likely to do under presumed circumstances. Mathias, as he conned these paradoxes, smiled to himself a little grimly. It would never do to give utterance to them. ‘I think if they know anything I shall be able to find it out,’ was all he said. ‘D’you mean to put them in the box?’ Thornton asked suddenly. ‘Not all of them, certainly: Heaven forbid! But we shall have to produce one of them at least, I am afraid.’ ‘Which?’ ‘Well. We had intended it to be the Fernandez girl. But she seems ... unsatisfactory?’ ‘Exactly.’ Then Thornton added, with a characteristic forward jerk: ‘She was sane enough when she left Jamaica.--Though always a bit of a fool.’ ‘Her aunt tells me that she seems to have lost her memory: or a great part of it. No, if I call her it will simply be to exhibit her condition.’ ‘Then?’ ‘I think I shall call your Emily.’ Thornton stood up. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘you’ll have to settle with her yourself what she’s to say. Write it out, and make her learn it by heart.’ ‘Certainly,’ said Mathias, looking at his finger-nails. ‘I am not in the habit of going into court unprepared.--It’s bad enough having a child in the box anyway,’ he went on. Thornton paused at the door. ‘--You can never count on them. They say what they think you want them to say. And then they say what they think the opposing counsel wants them to say too--if they like his face.’ Thornton gesticulated--a foreign habit. ‘I think I will take her to Madame Tussaud’s on Thursday afternoon and try my luck,’ ended Mathias: and the two bade each other good-bye. vi Emily enjoyed the wax-works; even though she did not know that a wax-work of Captain Jonsen, his scowling face bloody and a knife in his hand, was already in contemplation. She got on well with Mr. Mathias. She felt very grown-up, going out at last without the little ones endlessly tagging. Afterwards he took her to a bun-shop in Baker Street, and tried to persuade her to pour out his tea for him: but she turned shy at that, and he had in the end to do it for himself.