"Speak out," said the Judge, harshly. "Tell us everything plainly and
promptly, or I shall send you straight to gaol. The order is already
made out;" and as he spoke, he waved a flimsy bit of paper before him.

"I know nothing," the porter protested, piteously.

"That is false. We are fully informed and no fools. We are certain that
no such catastrophe could have occurred without your knowledge or
connivance."

"Indeed, gentlemen, indeed--"

"You were drinking with this maid at the buffet at Laroche. You had more
drink with her, or from her hands, afterwards in the car."

"No, gentlemen, that is not so. I could not--she was not in the car."

"We know better. You cannot deceive us. You were her accomplice, and the
accomplice of her mistress, also, I have no doubt."

"I declare solemnly that I am quite innocent of all this. I hardly
remember what happened at Laroche or after. I do not deny the drink at
the buffet. It was very nasty, I thought, and could not tell why, nor
why I could not hold my head up when I got back to the car."

"You went off to sleep at once? Is that what you pretend?"

"It must have been so. Yes. Then I know nothing more, not till I was
aroused."