ntimental reasons, no doubt. But I told him I loved to see them with
the other men's boots--Ross's and Father's and Cyril's and Mr.
Tavish's--in our harnessing-room, where the groom, Jarvis, always takes
care of them and keeps them oiled, when not in use, to prevent them
cracking. And so Angus laughed at me, and said they might stay, as he'd
another pair at home--and teased me terribly over my babyishness. It may
sound silly to you, Mr. Deland, but it meant a lot to me to see those
boots there--_belonging_--where I belonged. It was like--a peep into the
future.... And when the trouble with Father came, I wanted them there
more than ever, to keep my heart up. To my knowledge they have never
been moved."

"And yet my man Dollops found them under the shrubbery and in this
condition this morning--after last night's terrible affair, Miss
Duggan," put in Cleek quietly, keen eyes upon her face.

"It certainly looks black for Angus, Mr. Deland," she replied in a
frightened voice. "But I'll swear he never used them. I'll swear it in
court, if need be."

"How do you know?"

She stopped a moment and sucked in her breath, and then a sudden look of
determination came over her face.

"Because," she said steadily, "he was coming to meet _me_ in the grounds
last night, as he had come often enough before. We could never see each
other in daylight, as Father had forbidden him the house and so we
stole our meetings at night, under the old oak tree at the bottom of the
first lawn. You can't see it from the house, as that hedge of yew hides
it entirely."

"And you saw him last night? You'll swear upon that?"

"I--I--that is--_yes_, I saw him last night," she replied, with flaming
cheeks and upthrown chin. "First Ross, and now Angus! You're cruel, Mr.
Deland, cruel as detectives can so often be! I thought you were going to
help me--truly--and, instead, you cast suspicions upon the two people I
love most dearly in the world! How can I possibly put you upon other
clues? _Anything_ to lead you away from such a false and utterly
unworthy scent!"

Cleek laid a hand upon her arm, and bending his head, looked down at
her, a great sadness upon his face.

"Justice is so often cruel, Miss Duggan," he said quietly, "and to men
in my profession we have so often to be cruel to be kind. I wouldn't
hurt you for the world, believe me. But I must do my duty to the Law
that employs me at all costs. I am not indicting your fiance--truly--and
there