She refused to believe that I had invented my visions myself; she said it was folly: that I was only a child at the time and could not have done it.

She cited the Richmond fire and the colonial mansion and said they were quite beyond my capacities.

Then I saw my chance! I said she was right--I didn't invent those, I got them from Dr.Peake.Even this great shot did no damage.

She said Dr.Peake's evidence was better than mine, and he had said in plain words that it was impossible for me to have heard about those things.

Dear, dear, what a grotesque and unthinkable situation: a confessed swindler convicted of honesty and condemned to acquittal by circumstantial evidence furnished by the swindled! I realised, with shame and with impotent vexation, that I was defeated all along the line.