"The thing that troubles me," said the judge, interrupting, "is
this--who is Paul trying to shield?"

The girl looked anxiously around the room, then went to the door and
peered into the passage outside.

"Can't you think, father? Whom would he be likely to shield? I
accused her of it this afternoon. I could not help it. The doctor
doesn't know, but that's why she's so ill now. When she realised what
I meant, she seemed like one struck down by a blow."

"You mean to say," he gasped, "that you believe Jean--that is, his
mother--was----" He did not finish the sentence. It seemed too
horrible, too terrible.

"No, Mary," he continued at length. "That's not it."

"But it must be, father."

"No; that's not it. Now then, tell me everything you know. You went
to Dixon Street this morning; the woman told me all about it. You
brought her here. You had a talk with her. Tell me everything that
has taken place. You went to see Paul before the trial, too. Tell me
everything."

Half an hour later Judge Bolitho was in possession, not only of all
that Mary knew, but of all her suspicions and her reasons for those
suspicions. He had submitted her to a very thorough cross-examination.
His mind had fastened upon a hundred things of which she had taken no
cognisance. He saw through the fallacies of her reasoning, and drew
his conclusions accordingly. His mind was quick and active now. It
seemed as though his freedom from the responsibilities of his judgeship
gave him a sense of liberty. The fact that he had work to do had done
something to lessen the remorse which was gnawing at his heart.

"I must go over this whole business again, Mary," he said. "Did you
say that you had those Brunford papers here with you?"

"Yes, father; every one."

"And I have all the other facts since. Oh, my boy, my boy!"

"You believe you can save him?"

"I will, I will!" he cried. "I have sinned, but God will never allow
me to suffer this. He could not. One thing my confession to-day will
do, too--it will give me time. There's sure to be some delay before
another judge is appointed, and the whole case will have to be tried
again. Meanwhile I must be up and doing."

"Oh, if she were only conscious!" said Mary. "But the doctor says that
perhaps she will be unconscious for weeks, and under no circumstances
must she be questioned."

"Did she speak of me?" asked the judge.

"Only indirectly."

"Did she seem to despise