The problem of the interpreters having been solved Fong settled himself comfortably in the witness chair, crossed his hands upon his stomach and looked complacently at Mock Hen.

“Well, now let’s get along,” adjured His Honor.  “Swear the witness.”

Mr. Tutt immediately rose.

“If the court please,” said he, “I object to the swearing of the witness unless it is made to appear that he will regard himself as bound by the oath as administered.  Now this man is a Chinaman.  I should like to ask him a preliminary question or two.”

“That seems fair, Mr. O’Brien,” agreed the court.  “Do you see any reason why Mr. Tutt shouldn’t interrogate the witness?”

“Oh, let me qualify my own witness!” retorted O’Brien fretfully.  “Ah Fong, will you respect the oath to testify truthfully, about to be administered to you?”

The interpreter delivered a broadside of Chinese at Ah Fong, who listened attentively and replied at equal length.  Then the interpreter went at him again, and again Ah Fong affably responded.  It was interminable.

The two muttered and chortled at each other until O’Brien, losing patience, jumped up and called out:  “What’s all this?  Can’t you ask him a simple question and get a simple answer?  This isn’t a debating society.”

The interpreter held up his hand, indicating that the prosecutor should have patience.

“Ah-ya-ya-oo-aroo-yung-ung-loy-a-a-ya oo-chu-a-oy-ah-ohay-tching!” he concluded.

“A-yah-oy-a-yoo-oy-ah-chuck-uh-ung-loy-oo-ayah-a
-yoo-chung-chung-szt-oo-aha-oy-ou-ungaroo—­yah-yah-yah!” replied Ah Fong.

“Thank heaven, that’s over!” sighed O’Brien.

The interpreter drew himself up to his full height.

“He says yes,” he declared dramatically.

“It’s the longest yes I ever heard!” audibly remarked the foreman, who was feeling his oats.

“Does not that satisfy you?” inquired the court of Mr. Tutt.

“I am sorry to say it does not!” replied the latter.  “Mr. O’Brien has simply asked whether he will keep his oath.  His reply sheds no light on whether his religious belief is such that it would obligate him to respect an oath.”

“Well, ask him yourself!” snorted O’Brien.

“Ah Fong, do you believe in any god?” inquired Mr. Tutt.

“He says yes,” answered the interpreter after the usual interchange.

“What god do you believe in?” persisted Mr. Tutt.

Suddenly Ah Fong made answer without the intervention of the interpreter.

“When I in this country,” he replied complacently in English, “I b’lieve Gees Clist; when I in China I b’lieve Chinese god.”

“Does Your Honor hold that an obliging acquiescence in local theology constitutes such a religious belief as to make this man’s oath sacred?” inquired Mr. Tutt.

The judge smiled.

“I don’t see why not!” he declared.  “There isn’t any precedent as far as I am aware.  But he says he believes in the Deity.  Isn’t that enough?”