Juster stood up. “My lord, Mr. Pitt is not an expert in the morals and emotions of doctors, in general or in particular. He can have no expert knowledge as to why Dr. Ibbs called him. He knows only what Dr. Ibbs said, and we have heard that for ourselves.

He believed the explanation of accident did not entirely fit the facts as he saw them, so he quite rightly called the police.”

“Your objection is sustained,” the judge agreed. “Mr. Cleave, stop speculating and ask questions.”

“My lord,” Cleave murmured, then looked up sharply at Pitt. “Did Ibbs tell you he suspected murder?”

Pitt saw the trap. Again it was obvious. “No. He said he was concerned and asked my opinion.”

“You are a policeman, not a doctor, correct?”

“Of course.”

“Has any other doctor ever asked you for your medical opinion? As to cause of death, for example?” The sarcasm was there under his superficial innocence.

“No. My opinion as to interpretation of evidence, that’s all,” Pitt answered cautiously. He knew another trap lay ahead somewhere.

“Just so.” Cleave nodded. “Therefore, if Dr. Ibbs called you because he was dissatisfied, then you surely have sufficient intelligence to deduce that he suspected that the death was not merely an accident but might be a criminal matter… one that would involve the police?”

“Yes.”

“Then when you said he did not tell you he suspected a crime, you were being a trifle disingenuous, were you not? I hesitate to say you were less than honest, but it inevitably springs to mind, Mr. Pitt.”

Pitt could feel the blood heat up his face. He had seen one trap, and sidestepped it directly into another, making him seem evasive, prejudiced-exactly as Cleave had intended. What could he say now to undo it, or at least to not make it worse?