tterness of voice and manner that bespoke
what he suffered.

"You have done what some thousands have done, are doing, and will do
hereafter,--enjoyed possession of that which the law gave you, and which
a deeper research into the same law may take away."

"And Linton knew this?"

"He certainly knew my opinion of this document; but am I to suppose that
you were ignorant of it up to this moment?"

"You shall hear all," said Cashel, passing his hand across his brow,
which now ached with the torture of intense emotion. "To save myself
from all the ignominy of a felon's death, I did not reveal this before.
It was with me as a point of honor, that I would reserve this man for a
personal vengeance; but now a glimmering light is breaking on my brain,
that darker deeds than all he worked against me lie at his door, and
that in following up my revenge I may be but robbing the scaffold of its
due. Listen to me attentively." So saying, Cashel narrated every event
of the memorable day of Kennyfeck's death, detailing his meeting
with Enrique in the glen, and his last interview with Linton in his
dressing-room.

Hammond heard all with deepest interest, only interrupting at times to
ask such questions as might throw light upon the story. The whole body
of the circumstantial evidence against Roland not only became easily
explicable, but the shrewd perception of the lawyer also saw the
consummate skill with which the details had been worked into regular
order, and what consistency had been imparted to them. The great
difficulty of the case lay in the fact that, supposing Kennyfeck's death
had been planned by others, with the intention of imputing the crime to
Cashel, yet all the circumstances, or nearly all, which seemed to imply
his guilt, were matters of perfect accident, for which they never could
have provided, nor even ever foreseen,--such as his entrance by the
window, his torn dress, the wound of his hand, and the blood upon his
clothes.

"I see but one clew to this mystery," said Hammond, thoughtfully; "but
the more I reflect upon it, the more likely does it seem. Kennyfeck's
fate was intended for you,--he fell by a mistake."

Roland started with astonishment, but listened with deep attention as
Hammond recapitulated everything which accorded with this assumption.

"But why was one of my own pistols taken for the deed?"

"Perhaps to suggest the notion of suicide."

"How could my death have been turned to profit? Was I