ed way in which this was said convinced Mr. Orcutt that his
worst fears had been realized. Turning partly away, but not losing his
hold upon the other's arm, he observed with what quietness he could:

"You say that so strangely, I feel forced to put another question to
you. If what I have to ask strikes you with any surprise, remember that
my own astonishment and perplexity at being constrained to interrogate
you in this way, are greater than any sensation you can yourself
experience. What I desire to know is this. Among the witnesses you have
collected against this last suspected party, there are some women, are
there not?"

The District Attorney gravely bowed.

"Ferris, is Miss Dare amongst them?"

"Orcutt, she is."

With a look that expressed his secret mistrust the lawyer gave way to a
sudden burst of feeling.

"Ferris," he wrathfully acknowledged, "I may be a fool, but I don't see
what she can have to say on this subject. It is impossible she should
know any thing about the murder; and, as for this Mansell----" He made a
violent gesture with his hand, as if the very idea of her having any
acquaintance with the nephew of Mrs. Clemmens were simply preposterous.

The District Attorney, who saw from this how utterly ignorant the other
was concerning Miss Dare's relations to the person named, felt his
embarrassment increase.

"Mr. Orcutt," he replied, "strange as it may appear to you, Miss Dare
_has_ testimony to give of value to the prosecution, or she would not be
reckoned among its witnesses. What that testimony is, I must leave to
her discretion to make known to you, as she doubtless will, if you
question her with sufficient consideration. I never forestall matters
myself, nor would you wish me to tell you what would more becomingly
come from her own lips. But, Mr. Orcutt, this I can say: that if it had
been given me to choose between the two alternatives of resigning my
office and of pursuing an inquiry which obliges me to submit to the
unpleasantness of a judicial investigation a person held in so much
regard by yourself, I would have given up my office with pleasure, so
keenly do I feel the embarrassment of my position and the unhappiness of
yours. But any mere resignation on my part would have availed nothing to
save Miss Dare from appearing before the Grand Jury. The evidence she
has to give in this matter makes the case against Mansell as strong as
that against Hildreth, and it would be the duty of an