. Fresh from the sun-dazzle, the light within was dim and
murky, but she managed to make out a bearded American sitting by the
table and hammering it with a heavy caulking-mallet. And on the
opposite side sat St. Vincent. She had time to note his worn and
haggard face, before a man of Scandinavian appearance slouched up to
the table.

The man with the mallet raised his right hand and said glibly, "You do
most solemnly swear that what you are about to give before the
court--" He abruptly stopped and glowered at the man before him.
"Take off your hat!" he roared, and a snicker went up from the crowd as
the man obeyed.

Then he of the mallet began again. "You do most solemnly swear that
what you are about to give before the court shall be the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

The Scandinavian nodded and dropped his hand.

"One moment, gentlemen." Frona advanced up the lane, which closed
behind her.

St. Vincent sprang to his feet and stretched out his arms to her.
"Frona," he cried, "oh, Frona, I am innocent!"

It struck her like a blow, the unexpectedness of it, and for the
instant, in the sickly light, she was conscious only of the ring of
white faces, each face set with eyes that burned. Innocent of what?
she thought, and as she looked at St. Vincent, arms still extended, she
was aware, in a vague, troubled way, of something distasteful.
Innocent of what? He might have had more reserve. He might have
waited till he was charged. She did not know that he was charged with
anything.

"Friend of the prisoner," the man with the mallet said authoritatively.
"Bring a stool for'ard, some of you."

"One moment . . ." She staggered against the table and rested a hand
on it. "I do not understand. This is all new . . ." But her eyes
happened to come to rest on her feet, wrapped in dirty rags, and she
knew that she was clad in a short and tattered skirt, that her arm
peeped forth through a rent in her sleeve, and that her hair was down
and flying. Her cheek and neck on one side seemed coated with some
curious substance. She brushed it with her hand, and caked mud rattled
to the floor.

"That will do," the man said, not unkindly. "Sit down. We're in the
same box. We do not understand. But take my word for it, we're here
to find out. So sit down."

She raised her hand. "One moment--"

"Sit down!" he thundered. "The court cannot be disturbed."

A hum went up fro