"In that view of it, I won't question you further about this, or anything else, I think, since the only thing of service to my client is the truth. I dare say, in redirect examination, you'll have opportunity to repeat your virtuous denials--" "That's outrageous." Warner swung around. "Something else is outrageous--" "Mr. Warner!" But that was Terry, and he must listen. "We cannot have this. Please control yourself." "I am sorry, your Honor. My apologies to the Court, and to Mr. Hunter--who, I am sure, knew nothing about any improper conduct on the part of his witness. That's all." Warner sat down, with a sudden breaking out of sweat on his face, a dizziness and blurring of vision. Callista's hand slipped over his, easing his fingers out of their involuntary clench. She was repeating his name softly: "Cecil--Cecil--are you all right?" "Yes." He covered his mouth to speak to her. "I couldn't break him. I thought I could break the bastard." "Never mind. Relax. You bent him, but good." "Not enough. You'll have to take the stand, maybe." "But I must anyway. Relax." _Concerned for me._ He noticed the courtroom was quiet, Hunter delaying. Judge Mann's gaze was on him too, worried and speculative. _Do they think I'm going to fold like Judd? Judd--I said to that man Judd: 'If you do not understand that question--'_ He wiped his forehead. Maybe Callista had helped him get that handkerchief out of his pocket. He would not fold. Let them take their eyes off him. _Let them get on with it._ Hunter was getting on with it--neutrally it seemed. "Sergeant Rankin, I'll merely ask you: is there any foundation in fact, anything at all, to support this suggestion of misconduct on your part with the defendant Callista Blake?" "None whatever, sir. None whatever." Hunter was pausing another long time. Warner now helplessly understood that he was giving Rankin time to think, time for the man's rather slow wits to come up with the obvious countercharge. Hunter said at last: "In summary, then, you simply questioned Miss Blake about the story she had told you, you took charge of the brandy bottle and so on, you called Chief Gage, and then there was this episode of the fish-tank--when Miss Blake, you say, was composed, sort of philosophical and all that, hardly the way a girl would act, I guess, if she'd just been threatened and pushed around. That's a correct summary?" "Yes, sir, I think that about sums it up. Well--" It was comic enough, to observe the slow grimace as Rankin caught on to what Hunter would like him to say. Hunter asked mildly: "Something you wish to add?" "Well--I guess not. Of course I'm very much surprised that the defense should see fit to make a charge like that against me, but there seems to be no way of proving anything--Miss Blake's word against mine--and if I say anything about--about her own conduct in that respect, it's the same situation, so I would rather ignore it, let it go."