stress," Lord Henry resumed,
"that the prisoner's disappearance from Penarrow was due not to flight,
as was supposed, but to his having been trepanned by order of his
brother?"

"That is the truth as I stand here in the sight of Heaven," she replied
in a voice that rang with sincerity and carried conviction to more than
one of the officers seated at that table. "By that act the murderer
sought not only to save himself from exposure, but to complete his work
by succeeding to the Tressilian estates. Sir Oliver was to have been
sold into slavery to the Moors of Barbary. Instead the vessel upon which
he sailed was captured by Spaniards, and he was sent to the galleys by
the Inquisition. When his galley was captured by Muslim corsairs he took
the only way of escape that offered. He became a corsair and a leader of
corsairs, and then...."

"What else he did we know," Lord Henry interrupted. "And I assure you it
would all weigh very lightly with us or with any court if what else you
say is true."

"It is true. I swear it, my lord," she repeated.

"Ay," he answered, nodding gravely. "But can you prove it?"

"What better proof can I offer you than that I love him, and have
married him?"

"Bah!" said Sir John.

"That, mistress," said Lord Henry, his manner extremely gentle, "is
proof that yourself you believe this amazing story. But it is not proof
that the story itself is true. You had it, I suppose," he continued
smoothly, "from Oliver Tressilian himself?"

"That is so; but in Lionel's own presence, and Lionel himself confirmed
it--admitting its truth."

"You dare say that?" cried Sir John, and stared at her in incredulous
anger. "My God! You dare say that?"

"I dare and do," she answered him, giving him back look for look.

Lord Henry sat back in his chair, and tugged gently at his ashen tuft of
beard, his florid face overcast and thoughtful. There was something here
he did not understand at all. "Mistress Rosamund," he said quietly, "let
me exhort you to consider the gravity of your words. You are virtually
accusing one who is no longer able to defend himself; if your story
is established, infamy will rest for ever upon the memory of Lionel
Tressilian. Let me ask you again, and let me entreat you to answer
scrupulously. Did Lionel Tressilian admit the truth of this thing with
which you say that the prisoner charged him?"

"Once more I solemnly swear that what I have spoken is true; that Lionel
Tressilian did i