"But you were so certain of your facts just now," the President smiled encouragingly.
"But I can't see the lady very well, with all those veils on," Mme. Doulenques protested.
Lady Beltham did not wait for the request which the President would inevitably have made, but haughtily put back her veil.
"Do you recognise me now?" she said coldly.
The scorn in her tone upset Mme. Doulenques. She looked again at Lady Beltham and turned instinctively as if to ask enlightenment from Gurn, whose face, however, was expressionless, and then replied:
"It's just what I told you before, your worship: I can't be sure; I couldn't swear to it."
"You know, your worship," Mme. Doulenques protested, "I took an oath just now to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth; so I don't want to tell any stories; well, this lady might be the same lady, and again she mightn't be."
"In other words, you cannot give a definite answer."
"That's it," said the concierge. "I don't know; I can't swear. This lady is like the other lady--there's a sort of family likeness between them----, but at the moment I do not exactly recognise her; it's much too serious!"
Mme. Doulenques would willingly have continued to give evidence for ever and a day, but the President cut her short.
"Very well; thank you," he said, and dismissed her with the usher, turning again meanwhile to Lady Beltham.
"Will you kindly tell me now what your personal opinion is as to the relative culpability of the prisoner? Of course you understand that he has confessed to the crime, and your answer will bear chiefly on the motive that may have actuated him."
Lady Beltham appeared to have recovered some of her confidence.
"I cannot say anything definite, can only express a very vague feeling about the matter. I know my husband was quick-tempered, very quick-tempered, and even violent; and his peremptory temper predisposed him to positive convictions. He maintained what he considered his rights at all times and against all comers; if, as the prisoner says, there was a heated discussion, I should not be surprised if my husband did make use of arguments that might have provoked anger."
The President gently gave a clearer turn to the phrase she used.
"So, in your opinion, the prisoner's version of the story is quite permissible? You admit that Lord Beltham and his murderer may have had a heated discussion, as a consequence of which Gurn committed this crime? That is your honest belief?"