e as those which had been used by Mr.
Hildreth under similar circumstances, but how different was their
effect! The one was the utterance of a weak man driven to bay, the other
of a strong one. Mr. Ferris, who was by no means of an impressible
organization, flashed a look of somewhat uneasy doubt at Mr. Byrd, and
hesitated slightly before proceeding.

"We have sent for you in this friendly way," he remarked, at last, "in
order to give you that opportunity for explaining certain matters
connected with your aunt's sudden death which your well-known character
and good position seem to warrant. We think you can do this. At all
events I have accorded myself the privilege of so supposing; and any
words you may have to say will meet with all due consideration. As Mrs.
Clemmens' nephew, you, of course, desire to see her murderer brought to
justice."

The slightly rising inflection given to the last few words made them to
all intents and purposes a question, and Mr. Byrd, who stood near by,
waited anxiously for the decided Yes which seemed the only possible
reply under the circumstances, but it did not come.

Surprised, and possibly anxious, the District Attorney repeated himself.

"As her nephew," said he, "and the inheritor of the few savings she has
left behind her, you can have but one wish on this subject, Mr.
Mansell?"

But this attempt succeeded no better than the first. Beyond a slight
compression of the lips, Mr. Mansell gave no manifestation of having
heard this remark, and both Mr. Ferris and the detective found
themselves forced to wonder at the rigid honesty of a man who, whatever
death-giving blow he may have dealt, would not allow himself to escape
the prejudice of his accusers by assenting to a supposition he and they
knew to be false.

Mr. Ferris did not press the question.

"Mr. Mansell," he remarked instead, "a person by the name of Gouverneur
Hildreth is, as you must know, under arrest at this time, charged with
the crime of having given the blow that led to your aunt's death. The
evidence against him is strong, and the public generally have no doubt
that his arrest will lead to trial, if not to conviction. But,
unfortunately for us, however fortunately for him, another person has
lately been found, against whom an equal show of evidence can be raised,
and it is for the purpose of satisfying ourselves that it is but a
show, we have requested your presence here to-day."

A spasm, vivid as it was inst