"It's
mine--was my mother's wedding ring."

I was watching him intently. He met my regard with a level look.

"In the habit of wearing it?" I asked.

"Sometimes."

"See here," I came to the point with abrupt directness. "You
appreciate quite as much as I do the significance of that broad band of
gold on the middle finger of your right hand. Why did you put it there
at such a time?"

He sat silent.

"You 've become mighty close-mouthed all at once," I sharply urged.

He gave me a little half-smile, and glanced away.

"By advice of counsel I refuse to talk," said he, quietly.

"If you are the counsel, you have a fool for a client--and _vice
versa_," I retorted. "I suppose, too, that you refuse any assistance
that I--"

Instantly his assumed indifference vanished.

"By no means," stopping me with considerable warmth. "If there 's any
way out of this rotten mess it's you that must get me out. My hands
are literally tied, now. And--Swift," he hesitated; his face clouded
and his voice suddenly dropped, "I--I simply can't say anything more,
old chap."

"So," I quietly observed, "you too are worried about Fluette."

He started as if stung.

"My God, Swift!" he began, and stopped. He sat staring at me a moment
in utter dismay, then his disturbed look wandered to a window.

"You 're too devilish sharp," he muttered.

"Lucky for you that I am," retorted I, cheerfully. "This is a bad
tangle that we 're caught in, Maillot."

He said nothing more. By the time we reached our destination he was
prepared to enter philosophically upon his period of confinement,
whether it should prove long or short. As I turned to depart I noticed
that he was following me with a wistful look.

"I 'll see that you are kept posted about the young lady," I told him;
which elicited a deep sigh of relief and a fervent word of thanks.

Again I was preparing to leave him, the turnkey standing by and
impatiently jingling the ring of big brass keys which was suspended
from his arm, when the prisoner called me back. He searched my eyes
earnestly.

"Swift," he began, "as I said before, I 'm helpless now to fight for
myself. But I want to warn you against that devil Burke. I know
nothing further than that he has been in the habit of visiting Mr.
Fluette and of being closeted with him for hours at a time. The
subject of those long conferences Mr. Fluette has kept strictly to
himself, evading all of Belle's inquiries and atte