u have through your counsel, that you called at Miss
Briggerland's that night to break off your engagement and that the
interview was a mild one and unattended by recriminations is to suggest
that this lady has deliberately committed perjury in order to swear away
your life, and when to that disgraceful charge you produce a motive,
namely that by your death or imprisonment Miss Briggerland, who is your
cousin, would benefit to a considerable extent, you merely add to your
infamy. Nobody who saw the young girl in the box, a pathetic, and if I
may say, a beautiful figure, could accept for one moment your fantastic
explanation.

"Who killed Ferdinand Bulford? A man without an enemy in the world. That
tragedy cannot be explained away. It now only remains for me to pass the
sentence which the law imposes. The jury's recommendation to mercy will
be forwarded to the proper quarter...."

He then proceeded to pass sentence of death, and the tall man in the
dock listened without a muscle of his face moving.

So ended the great Berkeley Street Murder Trial, and when a few days
later it was announced that the sentence of death had been commuted to
one of penal servitude for life, there were newspapers and people who
hinted at mistaken leniency and suggested that James Meredith would have
been hanged if he were a poor man instead of being, as he was, the
master of vast wealth.

"That's that," said Jack Glover between his teeth, as he came out of
court with the eminent King's Counsel who had defended his friend and
client, "the little lady wins."

His companion looked sideways at him and smiled.

"Honestly, Glover, do you believe that poor girl could do so dastardly a
thing as lie about the man she loves?"

"She loves!" repeated Jack Glover witheringly.

"I think you are prejudiced," said the counsel, shaking his head.
"Personally, I believe that Meredith is a lunatic; I am satisfied that
all he told us about the interview he had with the girl was born of a
diseased imagination. I was terribly impressed when I saw Jean
Briggerland in the box. She--by Jove, there is the lady!"

They had reached the entrance of the Court. A big car was standing by
the kerb and one of the attendants was holding open the door for a girl
dressed in black. They had a glimpse of a pale, sad face of
extraordinary beauty, and then she disappeared behind the drawn blinds.

The counsel drew a long sigh.

"Mad!" he said huskily. "He must be mad! If