"Unfortunately he doesn't deny it, you see." "I heard," said Fleetwood, lighting a cigarette, "that he did deny it; that he said, no matter what his condition was, he couldn't have done it.

If he had been sober, the governors would have been bound to take his word of honour.

But he couldn't give that, you see.

And after they pointed out to him that he had been in no condition to know exactly what he did do, he shut up.

...