Just before Othello kills Desdemona, he accuses her of having an affair with Cassio. She says that Cassio will testify otherwise, but Othello replies, "No, his mouth is stopp'd; / Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't". After he has killed Desdemona, Othello tries to justify himself to Emilia. He says that if she doesn't believe that Desdemona was a whore Emilia should ask her husband. Emilia expresses astonished disbelief, and Othello says, "Ay, 'twas he that told me first: / An honest man he is, and hates the slime / That sticks on filthy deeds". Twice more Emilia expresses the strongest possible doubt that it was Iago who said that Desdemona was false, and Othello becomes impatient with her. He says, "He, woman; / I say thy husband: dost understand the word? / My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago". Emilia, however, doesn't seem to have Othello's absolute faith in Iago's honesty. She replies, "If he say so, may his pernicious soul / Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart".