ord Chiltern had heard of the will before his last visit to Phineas
in Newgate, but had not chosen then to speak of his sister's wealth.

"I have heard nothing of Mr. Kennedy's will."

"It was made immediately after our marriage,--and he never changed
it, though he had so much cause of anger against me."

"He has not injured you, then,--as regards money."

"Injured me! No, indeed. I am a rich woman,--very rich. All
Loughlinter is my own,--for life. But of what use can it be to
me?" He in his present state could tell her of no uses for such a
property. "I suppose, Phineas, it cannot be that you are really in
danger?"

"In the greatest danger, I fancy."

"Do you mean that they will say--you are guilty?"

"The magistrates have said so already."

"But surely that is nothing. If I thought so, I should die. If I
believed it, they should never take me out of the prison while you
are here. Barrington says that it cannot be. Oswald and Violet are
sure that such a thing can never happen. It was that Jew who did it."

"I cannot say who did it. I did not."

"You! Oh, Phineas! The world must be mad when any can believe it!"

"But they do believe it?" This, he said, meaning to ask a question as
to that outside world.

"We do not. Barrington says--"

"What does Barrington say?"

"That there are some who do;--just a few, who were Mr. Bonteen's
special friends."

"The police believe it. That is what I cannot understand;--men who
ought to be keen-eyed and quick-witted. That magistrate believes it.
I saw men in the Court who used to know me well, and I could see that
they believed it. Mr. Monk was here yesterday."

"Does he believe it?"

"I asked him, and he told me--no. But I did not quite trust him as he
told me. There are two or three who believe me innocent."

"Who are they?"

"Low, and Chiltern, and his wife;--and that man Bunce, and his wife.
If I escape from this,--if they do not hang me,--I will remember
them. And there are two other women who know me well enough not to
think me a murderer."

"Who are they, Phineas?"

"Madame Goesler, and the Duchess of Omnium."

"Have they been here?" she asked, with jealous eagerness.

"Oh, no. But I hear that it is so,--and I know it. One learns to feel
even from hearsay what is in the minds of people."

"And what do I believe, Phineas? Can you read my thoughts?"

"I know them of old, without reading them now." Then he put forth his
hand and took hers. "Had I mu