doubt that the man is guilty of a monstrous crime.'

'I don't care what the evidence is,' said Lucy. 'I know he can't have
done a shameful thing.'

'But, good God, have you forgotten that it's your own brother whom he
killed!' he cried hotly. 'The whole country is up in arms against him,
and you are quite indifferent.'

'Oh, Bobbie, how can you say that?' she wailed, suddenly moved to the
very depths of her being. 'How can you be so cruel?'

He went up to her, and they stood face to face. He spoke very quickly,
flinging the words at her with indignant anger.

'If you cared for George at all, you must wish to punish the man who
caused his death. At least you can't continue to be his'--he stopped as
he saw the agony in her eyes, and changed his words--'his greatest
friend. It was your doing that George went to Africa at all. The least
thing you can do is to take some interest in his death.'

She put up her hands to her eyes, as though to drive away the sight of
hateful things.

'Oh, why do you torment me?' she cried pitifully. 'I tell you he isn't
guilty.'

'He's refused to answer anyone. I tried to get something out of him, but
I couldn't, and I lost my temper. He might give you the truth if you
asked him pointblank.'

'I couldn't do that.'

'Why not?'

'It's very strange that he should insist on this silence,' said Lady
Kelsey. 'One would have thought if he had nothing to be ashamed of, he'd
have nothing to hide.'

'Do you believe that story, too?' asked Lucy.

'I don't know what to believe. It's so extraordinary. Dick says he knows
nothing about it. If the man's innocent, why on earth doesn't he speak?'

'He knows I trust him,' said Lucy. 'He knows I'm proud to trust him. Do
you think I would cause him the great pain of asking him questions?'

'Are you afraid he couldn't answer them?' asked Boulger.

'No, no, no.'

'Well, just try. After all you owe as much as that to the memory of
George. Try.'

'But don't you see that if he won't say anything, it's because there are
good reasons,' she cried distractedly. 'How do I know what interests are
concerned in the matter, beside which the death of George is
insignificant....'

'Do you look upon it so lightly as that?'

She turned away, bursting into tears. She was like a hunted beast. There
seemed no escape from the taunting questions.

'I must show my faith in him,' she sobbed.

'I think you're a little nervous to go into the matter too closely.