"The point is well taken," said Judge Mann. Warner heard or imagined a note of weariness or doubt. "Are you making a formal objection, Mr. Warner?" "No, your Honor. I only wish the prosecutor would get to the point, if there is one." _A mistake; he'll catch me up on it too._ "There is one," said Hunter mildly. "Perhaps I can make it clearer to counsel later on. Miss Blake, you must have believed--did you not?--that something--maybe not your position as an artist if you say it wasn't that--but something excused you, made it appear all right to you to enter blithely on an adulterous relation with James Doherty." "I did not enter on it blithely, nor make excuses for myself. I was aware that such a relation is contrary to the principles we give lip-service to in this part of the world." _She can't--she mustn't_-- "And also contrary to law?" "Mr. Hunter, I'm afraid I never stopped to find out whether this is one of the states where adultery is listed as a crime." With deepening terror Warner understood that she was already becoming raw and recklessly angry, though Hunter had scarcely begun. _I must be heard._ "I take that to mean that you hold yourself above the law?" "I object, your Honor. I submit that in his opening Mr. Hunter laid considerable polite stress on the fact that the indictment charges murder and nothing else. If now he has elected himself some kind of guardian of public morals, if Callista Blake is to be tried after all for a violation of sex conventions--" "Sir, that's uncalled-for and unjust. My question was phrased in general terms. I think nothing could bear more directly on the credibility of the witness than her respect for law, or lack of it." "You were asking," said Judge Mann, "in general terms, whether or not the witness considers herself above the law? That was the meaning of your question and the extent of it?" "It was, your Honor." "I must overrule your objection, Mr. Warner." "Exception." "Yes, certainly. Answer the question, Miss Blake." "I do not consider myself above the law." _At least she's quieter; her hands not shaking._ "Like everyone, I've probably broken a number of minor laws without even knowing it. As for the matter the prosecutor specifically mentioned, adultery, I don't know, as I said, how the state of New Essex technically regards that action. If it's a crime, then I'm a criminal--on that charge." _No more, Callista! LOOK AT ME!_ "I'm quite aware you can't have a human society without laws. I try to respect them so far as I'm able--I--" "Miss Blake," said Judge Mann, "there is no need to go beyond the question. For your own sake I must instruct you not to do so. Limit your answers to what Mr. Hunter asks, so far as you can." _He may have saved her--I don't know--I don't know._ "You respect the laws so far as you are able--now what does that mean, Miss Blake? At what point, please, does it become impossible for you to respect the laws?"