silent, completely awed. "If you had thought for one moment, you would
have readily seen that the police are probably watching you, hoping
that, through you, they might find me. Fortunately, however, I have
thought of the contingency, and am prepared for it. But let us waste
no more time. No! Do not speak. Listen, and heed what I have to say. I
have decided not to follow your suggestion. You wrote to me advising
flight. That was another indiscretion, since your messenger might have
been followed. However, I forgave you, for you not only offered to
accompany me, but you expressed a willingness to furnish the funds, as
an earnest of which I found a thousand dollars in your envelope. A
token, you see, of a love more intense than that jealousy which a
moment ago whispered to you to abandon me. From this, and other
similar circumstances, I readily deduce that after all you will marry
me. But to come to the point. I have consulted a firm of lawyers, and
by their advice I shall surrender myself on the day after to-morrow."

"You will surrender to the police?" The woman was thoroughly alarmed.
"They will convict you. They will----ugh!" She shuddered.

"No," said the Doctor more kindly than he had as yet spoken. "Do not
be afraid. They will neither convict me, nor hang me. I will stand my
trial, and come out of it a freed man."

"But if not? Even innocent men have been convicted."

"Even innocent men! Why do you say even? Do you doubt that I am
innocent?"

"No! No! But this is what I mean. Although innocent you might be
brought in guilty."

"Well, even so, I must take the chance. All my hopes, all my
ambitions, all that I care for in life depend upon my being a free
man. I cannot ostracize myself, and reach my goal. So the die is cast.
But there is another thing that I must tell you. We cannot be married
at present."

"Not married? Why not? Why delay? I wish to marry you now, when you
are accused, to prove to you how much I love you!" Thus she showed the
vacillation of her impulsive, passionate nature.

"I appreciate your love, and your generosity. But it cannot be. My
lawyers advise against it, and I agree with them that it would be
hazardous. Next, I must have money with which to carry on my defence.
When can you give it to me? You must procure cash. It would not be
well for me to present your check at my bankers. The circumstances
forbid it, lest the prosecution twist it into evidence against me."

"When I receiv