nk back, and with his chin upon his
hand looked again mere grey defeat.

Fairfax Cary turned from the window. "I am sorry," he said coldly and
harshly. "In a lesser thing, Major Churchill, that consideration might
stop me. It cannot do so, sir, in this."

"I am not asking that it should," answered the other. "I seldom ask too
much of this humanity. You will do what you must, and what you will, and
I shall comprehend your motive and your act. But I will stand clear of
you, Fair. After to-day, you plan without my knowledge, and work without
my aid!"

"If it must be so, sir."

"I have called myself," said Major Edward sombrely, "a Spartan and a
Stoic. I believe in law and the payment of debts. I believe that a
murderer should be tracked down and shown that civilization has no need
of him. I loved your brother. And I sit here, a weak old man, and say,
'Not if it strikes through a woman's heart!' What a Stoic the Most High
must be!"

"I think that I should know one thing, sir. Is it your belief that he
has told your niece?"

The Major grew dark red, and straightened himself with a jerk. "Told my
niece? Made her, sir, a confidante of his villainy, leagued her to aid
him in cajoling the world? I think not, sir; I trust not! I would not
believe even him so universal an enemy. If I thought that, sir,--but no!
I have seen my niece Jacqueline twice since--" the Major spoke between
his teeth--"since Mr. Rand's return from Richmond." He sat a moment in
silence, then continued. "Her grief is deep, as is natural--do we not
all grieve? But if I have skill to read a face, she carries in her heart
no such black stone as that! Remember, please, that he told her nothing
of his plot with Burr. You will oblige me by no longer indulging such an
idea."

"Very well, sir. I know that Colonel Churchill has no suspicion. He
contends that it was some gypsy demon--will not even have it that some
poor white from about the still--says that no man in this county--Well!
I, too, would have thought that once."

"My brother Dick has the innocence of a child. But others apparently
suspect as little. You and I are alone there. And we have only the moral
conviction, Fairfax. They were enemies, and they were in the same county
on the same day. That is all you have to go upon. He has somehow made a
coil that only the serpent himself can unwind."

"A man can but try, sir. I shall try. If you talk of an inner
conviction, I have that conviction that I