RUTH. Yes, I just managed to get away from him. I went straight to my friend. It was eight o'clock. THE JUDGE. In the morning? Your husband was not under the influence of liquor then? RUTH. It wasn't always that. FROME. In what condition were you? RUTH. In very bad condition, sir. My dress was torn, and I was half choking. FROME. Did you tell your friend what had happened? RUTH. Yes. I wish I never had. FROME. It upset him? RUTH. Dreadfully. FROME. Did he ever speak to you about a cheque? RUTH. Never. FROZE. Did he ever give you any money? RUTH. Yes. FROME. When was that? RUTH. On Saturday. FROME. The 8th? RUTH. To buy an outfit for me and the children, and get all ready to start. FROME. Did that surprise you, or not? RUTH. What, sir? FROME. That he had money to give you. Ring. Yes, because on the morning when my husband nearly killed me my friend cried because he hadn't the money to get me away. He told me afterwards he'd come into a windfall. FROME. And when did you last see him? RUTH. The day he was taken away, sir. It was the day we were to have started. FROME. Oh, yes, the morning of the arrest. Well, did you see him at all between the Friday and that morning? [RUTH nods] What was his manner then? RUTH. Dumb--like--sometimes he didn't seem able to say a word. FROME. As if something unusual had happened to him? RUTH. Yes. FROME. Painful, or pleasant, or what? RUTH. Like a fate hanging over him. FROME. [Hesitating] Tell me, did you love the prisoner very much? RUTH. [Bowing her head] Yes. FROME. And had he a very great affection for you? RUTH. [Looking at FALDER] Yes, sir. FROME. Now, ma'am, do you or do you not think that your danger and unhappiness would seriously affect his balance, his control over his actions? RUTH. Yes. FROME. His reason, even? RUTH. For a moment like, I think it would. FROME. Was he very much upset that Friday morning, or was he fairly calm? RUTH. Dreadfully upset. I could hardly bear to let him go from me. FROME. Do you still love him? RUTH. [With her eyes on FALDER] He's ruined himself for me. FROME. Thank you. He sits down. RUTH remains stoically upright in the witness-box. CLEAVER. [In a considerate voice] When you left him on the morning of Friday the 7th you would not say that he was out of his mind, I suppose? RUTH. No, sir. CLEAVER. Thank you; I've no further questions to ask you. RUTH. [Bending a little forward to the jury] I would have done the same for him; I would indeed. THE JUDGE. Please, please! You say your married life is an unhappy one? Faults on both sides? RUTH. Only that I never bowed down to him. I don't see why I should, sir, not to a man like that. THE JUDGE. You refused to obey him? RUTH. [Avoiding the question] I've always studied him to keep things nice. THE JUDGE. Until you met the prisoner--was that it? RUTH. No; even after that.