er know a
falsehood, some would sell their souls for a sixpence, and these are the
most respectable of any--"

"My dear sir, my dear sir, I beg your pardon for interrupting you; but
in my house the rule is to speak well of people, or else to say nothing
about them."

"Then you must resign your commission, doctor; for how can you take
depositions? But, as I was saying, I should have some hope of the
innocence of young Robin if it should turn out that his father, Sir
Duncan, has destroyed a good many of the native race in India. It may
reasonably be hoped that he has done so, which would tend very strongly
to exonerate his son. But the evidence laid before your Worship and
before the coroner was black--black--black."

"My position forbids me to express opinions. The evidence compelled me
to issue the warrant. But knowing your position, I may show you this, in
every word of which I have perfect faith."

With these words Dr. Upround produced the letter which he had received
last night, and the general factor took in all the gist of it in less
than half a minute.

"Very good! very good!" he said, with a smile of experienced
benevolence. "We believe some of it. Our duty is to do so. There are two
points of importance in it. One as to the girl he is in love with, and
the other his kind liberality to the fellows who will have to bear the
brunt of it."

"You speak sarcastically, and I hope unfairly. To my mind, the most
important facts are these--that poor Carroway was shot from behind, and
that the smugglers had no fire-arms, except two pistols, both unloaded."

"Who is to prove that, Dr. Upround? Their mouths are closed; and if
they were open, would anybody believe them? We knew long ago that the
vigilant and deservedly lamented officer took the deathblow from behind;
but of that how simple is the explanation! The most intelligent of his
crew, and apparently his best subordinate, whose name is John Cadman,
deposes that his lamented chief turned round for one moment to give an
order, and during that moment received the shot. His evidence is the
more weighty because he does not go too far with it. He does not pretend
to say who fired. He knows only that one of the smugglers did. His
evidence will hang those six poor fellows, from the laudable desire of
the law to include the right one. But I trust that the right one will be
far away."

"I trust not. If even one of them is condemned, even to transportation,
Robin Lyth