ed the District Attorney with a most sarcastic
smile upon his blanched and trembling lips.

"Does my learned friend suppose the court will receive any such
ambiguous explanation as this? If the testimony sought from this witness
is by way of rebuttal, let him say so; but if it is not, let him be
frank enough to admit it, that I may in turn present my objections to
the introduction of any irrelevant evidence at this time."

"The testimony I propose to present through this witness _is_ in the way
of rebuttal," returned Mr Ferris, severely. "The argument advanced by
the defence, that the prisoner could not have left Mrs. Clemmens' house
at ten minutes before twelve and arrived at Monteith Quarry Station at
twenty minutes past one, is not a tenable one, and I purpose to prove it
by this witness."

Mr. Orcutt's look of anxiety changed to one of mingled amazement and
incredulity.

"By _this_ witness! You have chosen a peculiar one for the purpose," he
ironically exclaimed, more and more shaken from his self-possession by
the quiet bearing of his opponent, and the silent air of waiting which
marked the stately figure of her whom, as he had hitherto believed, he
thoroughly comprehended. "Your Honor," he continued, "I withdraw my
objections; I should really like to hear how Miss Dare or any lady can
give evidence on this point."

And he sank back into his seat with a look at his client in which
professional bravado strangely struggled with something even deeper than
alarm.

"This must be an exciting moment to the prisoner," whispered Hickory to
Byrd.

"So, so. But mark his control, will you? He is less cut up than Orcutt."

"Look at his eyes, though. If any thing could pierce that veil of hers,
you would think such a glance might."

"Ah, he is trying his influence over her at last."

"But it is too late."

Meantime the District Attorney had signified again to Miss Dare his
desire that she should take the stand. Slowly, and like a person in a
dream, she arose, unloosed her veil, dragged it from before her set
features, and stepped mechanically forward to the place assigned her.
What was there in the face thus revealed that called down an
instantaneous silence upon the court, and made the momentary pause that
ensued memorable in the minds of all present? It was not that she was so
pale, though her close-fitting black dress, totally unrelieved by any
suspicion of white, was of a kind to bring out any startling change