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." Henry Thresk for his part knew that it was not merely difficult, it was, in fact, impossible.