but the rags upon her back, and took a steerage passage for
England.

"That was the story she told Mr. Parmalee. 'You will go to
Devonshire,' she said to him; 'you will see my child. Tell her I died
humbly praying her forgiveness. She is rich; she will reward you.'

"Mr. Parmalee immediately made up his mind that this sick woman, who
had a daughter the wife of a wealthy baronet, was a great deal too
valuable, in a pecuniary light, to be allowed 'to go off the hooks,' as
he expressed it, thus easily.

"He pooh-poohed the notion of her dying, cheered her up, nursed her
assiduously, and finally brought her around. He left her in London,
posted down here, and remained here until the return of Sir Everard and
my lady from their honey-moon trip. The day after he presented himself
to them--displayed his pictures, and among others showed my lady her
mother's portrait, taken at the time of her marriage. She recognized
it at once--her father had left her its counterpart on the night he
died. He knew her secret, and she had to meet him if he chose. He
threatened to tell Sir Everard else, and the thought of her husband
ever discovering her mother's shame was agony to her. She knew how
proud he was, how proud his mother was, and she would have died to save
him pain. And that is why she met Mr. Parmalee by night and by
stealth--why she gave him money--why all the horrors that have followed
occurred."

Once more the cruel, clear, unfaltering voice paused. A groan broke
the silence--a groan of such unutterable anguish and despair from the
tortured husband that every heart thrilled to hear it.

With that agonized groan, his face dropped in his hands, and he never
raised it again. He heard no more--he sat bowed, paralyzed, crushed
with misery and remorse. His wife--his lost wife--had been as pure and
stainless as the angels, and he--oh, pitiful God! how merciless he had
been!

Sybilla Silver was dismissed; other witnesses were called. Edwards and
Claudine were the only ones examined that day, Sybilla had occupied the
court so long. They corroborated all she had said. The prisoner was
remanded, and the court adjourned.

The night of agony which followed to the wretched prisoner no words can
ever tell. All he had suffered hitherto seemed as nothing. Men
recoiled in horror at the sight of him next day; it was as if a
galvanized corpse had entered the court-room.

He sat in dumb misery, neither heeding nor hearing