human
You made up your mind, Groener, said the judge as he glanced over the sheets,
gpt
hammer
human
Not at all, contradicted Groener,
gpt
I made the changes because every word has many associations and I followed the first one that came into my head. When we went through the list a second time I did not remember or try to remember the answers I had given the first time.
human
Ah, but that is just the point, insisted the magistrate,
gpt
In me?
human
Precisely. It is true you kept your answers to the important words within your normal tone of reply, but in at least five cases you went beyond this normal time in answering the _unimportant_ words.
gpt
The words are unimportant and so are the answers.
human
Do you think so? Then explain this. You were answering regularly at the rate of one answer in a second or so when suddenly you hesitated and clenched your hands and waited _four and two fifths seconds_ before answering 'feather' to the simple word 'hat.'
gpt
Perhaps I was tired, perhaps I was bored.
human
Yes, and perhaps you were inwardly disturbed by the shock and strain of answering the _previous_ word quickly and unconcernedly. I didn't warn you of that danger. Do you know what the previous word was?
gpt
No.
human
Ah?
gpt
And why did you waver and wipe your brow and draw in your breath quickly and wait _six and one fifth seconds_ before answering 'violin' when I gave you the word 'music'?
human
I'm sure I don't know.
gpt
Then I'll tell you; it was because you were again deeply agitated by the previous word 'coaching party' which you had answered instantly with 'horses.'
human
I don't see anything agitating in the word 'coaching party,'
gpt
And why did you start from your seat and tremble nervously and wait _nine and four fifths seconds_ before you were able to answer 'salad' to the word 'potato'?
human
Shall I tell you why? It was because your heart was pounding, your head throbbing, your whole mental machinery was clogged and numbed by the shock of the word before, by the terror that went through you _when you answered 'worsted work' to 'Charity Bazaar.'_
gpt
My God, you have no right to torture me like this!
human
We've got him going now,
gpt
Sit down! ordered the judge.
human
You can stop this examination very easily by telling the truth.
gpt
Do you hear, Groener? continued Hauteville.
human
You can save yourself a great deal of trouble by confessing your part in this crime. Look here! Answer me!
gpt
I--I feel faint, he murmured.
human
Could you--give me a little brandy?
gpt
Here, said Coquenil, producing a flask.
human
Let him have a drop of this.
gpt
Thanks!
human
I told you it wouldn't be amusing, said the magistrate grimly.
gpt
Come now, it's one thing or the other, either you confess or we go ahead.
human
I have nothing to confess, I know nothing about this crime--nothing.
gpt
Then what was the matter with you just now?
human
Look at that clock and you'll see what was the matter. It's after ten, you've had me here for five hours and--I've had no food since noon. It doesn't make a man a murderer because he's hungry, does it?