Robert Mueller has been presented, at various times and by various parties, as a hero or villain - an avenging angel who would expose corruption or the part of a corrupt establishment himself.

After six hours of testimony, the former special counsel – for two years the silent sphynx of Washington – spoke extensively, but he revealed he had little of the superhuman powers that have been attributed to him.

In his sometimes stumbling testimony, he stuck by the text of his voluminous report – leaving the American political landscape much the way it sat before he entered the committee room on Wednesday morning.

Democrats hoping that Mr Mueller would offer the kind of sweeping testimony that fuels calls for presidential impeachment will surely be disappointed. Republicans, including the president himself, who were hoping for vindication at last – “No collusion! No obstruction!” - did not receive it.

Instead, the partisan muddle remains. Investigations in Congress will continue to plod along. Those on the left will continue to decry what they see as the president’s obvious crimes and ethical shortcomings. Republicans will continue to insist the president is being smeared by false accusations.

In the end, like all political disputes, the American public will be the final arbiter.

In this case, that judgement will be passed at the ballot box, 15 months from now.