Not only would the idea of endangering the life of a human being have
been horrible to him, but the sanctity of an oath was imperative to
him. He was essentially a truth-speaking man, if only he knew how
to speak the truth. He would have sacrificed much to establish the
innocence of Phineas Finn,--not for the love of Phineas, but for
the love of innocence;--but not even to do that would he have lied.
But he was a bad witness, and by his slowness, and by a certain
unsustained pomposity which was natural to him, had already taught
the jury to think that he was anxious to convict the prisoner. Two
men in the Court, and two only, thoroughly understood his condition.
Mr. Chaffanbrass saw it all, and intended without the slightest
scruple to take advantage of it. And the Chief Justice saw it all,
and was already resolving how he could set the witness right with the
jury.
"I didn't think of Mr. Finn at the time," said Lord Fawn in answer to
the last question.
"So I understand. The man didn't strike you as being tall.
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