“Yes,” Thresk agreed, “that was the case for the Crown.”

“Yes, and throughout the sitting at the Stipendiary’s inquiry before you came upon the scene that theory was clearly developed.”

“Yes.”

Thresk’s confidence vanished as quickly as it had come.  He realised whither Pettifer’s questions were leading.  There was a definitely weak link in his story and Pettifer had noticed it and was testing it.

“Now,” the solicitor continued—­“and this is the important point—­what was the answer to that charge foreshadowed by the defence during those days before you appeared?”

Thresk answered the question quickly, if answer it could be called.

“The defence had not formulated any answer.  I came forward before the case for the Crown finished.”

“Quite so.  But Mrs. Ballantyne’s counsel did cross-examine the witnesses for the prosecution—­we must not forget that, Mr. Thresk—­and from the cross-examination it is quite clear what answer he was going to make.  He was going—­not to deny that Mrs. Ballantyne shot her husband—­but to plead that she shot him in self-defence.”

“Oh?” said Thresk, “and where do you find that?”

He had no doubt himself in what portion of the report of the trial a proof of Pettifer’s statement was to be discovered, but he made a creditable show of surprise that any one should hold that opinion at all.

Pettifer selected a column of newspaper from his cuttings.

“Listen,” he said.  “Mr. Repton, a friend of Mrs. Ballantyne, was called upon a subpoena by the Crown and he testified that while he was a Collector at Agra he went up with his wife from the plains to the hill-station of Moussourie during a hot weather.  The Ballantynes went up at the same time and occupied a bungalow next to Repton’s.  One night Repton’s house was broken into.  He went across to Ballantyne the next morning and advised him in the presence of his wife to sleep with a revolver under his pillow.”

“Yes, I remember that,” said Thresk.  He had indeed cause to remember it very well, for it was just this evidence given by Repton with its clear implication of the line which the defence meant to take that had sent him in a hurry to Mrs. Ballantyne’s solicitor.  Pettifer continued by reading Repton’s words slowly and with emphasis.

“’Mrs. Ballantyne then turned very pale, and running after me down the garden like a distracted woman cried:  “Why did you tell him to do that?  It will some night mean my death."’ This statement, Mr. Thresk, was elicited in cross-examination by Mrs. Ballantyne’s counsel, and it could only mean that he intended to set up a plea of self-defence.  I find it a little difficult to reconcile that intention with the story you subsequently told.”