DANFORTH: Sit you down, children. Your friend, Mary Warren, has given us a deposition. In which she swears that she never saw familiar spirits, apparitions, nor any manifest of the Devil. She claims as well that none of you have seen these things either. Now, children, this is a court of law. The law, based upon the Bible, and the Bible, writ by Almighty God, forbid the practice of witchcraft, and describe death as the penalty thereof. But likewise, children, the law and Bible damn all bearers of false witness. Now then. It does not escape me that this may be devised to blind us; it may well be that Mary Warren has been conquered by Satan, who sends her here to distract our sacred purpose. If so, her neck will break for it. But if she speak true, I bid you now drop your guile and confess your pretense, for a quick confession will go easier with you. Abigail Williams, rise. Is there any truth in this?
ABIGAIL: No, sir.

– Arthur Miller

The Crucible, Act 3. Danforth emphasizies his authority over the "children," explaining that Mary Warren has submitted a deposition claiming their evidence of seeing spirits and the Devil to be a lie. Danforth and his court have invested a great deal in the girls’ stories being true. While he may now be having his doubts, he is not going to easily dismiss their testimony on the word of one who has recanted. He may wish to be seen to be "fair," but his speech shows bias as he suggests that Mary may be lying on the instructions of Satan and threatens her with hanging. It is ironic that Mary’s honesty is characterized in this way. When Danforth asks Abigail if what Mary says in her deposition is true, Abby has little problem lying and answering "no."