on of the defence I had so
carefully prepared?"

"No," was her short reply; "that could but afford me joy. Of whatever
sin he may be guilty, he is at least free from the reproach of accepting
deliverance at the expense of a woman. I am sorry I said what I did
to-day, because a revelation has since been made to me, which proves I
could never have sustained myself in the position I took, and that it
was mere suicidal folly in me to attempt to save Craik Mansell by such
means."

"A revelation?"

"Yes." And, forgetting all else in the purpose which had actuated her in
seeking this interview, Imogene drew nearer to the lawyer and earnestly
said: "There have been some persons--I have perceived it--who have
wondered at my deep conviction of Craik Mansell's guilt. But the reasons
I had justified it. They were great, greater than any one knew, greater
even than _you_ knew. His mother--were she living--must have thought as
I did, had she been placed beside me and seen what I have seen, and
heard what I have heard from the time of Mrs. Clemmens' death. Not only
were all the facts brought against him in the trial known to me, but I
saw him--saw him with my own eyes, running from Mrs. Clemmens'
dining-room door at the very time we suppose the murder to have been
committed; that is, at five minutes before noon on the fatal day."

"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Orcutt, in his astonishment. "You are
playing with my credulity, Imogene."

But she went on, letting her voice fall in awe of the lawyer's startled
look.

"No," she persisted; "I was in Professor Darling's observatory. I was
looking through a telescope, which had been pointed toward the town.
Mrs. Clemmens was much in my mind at the time, and I took the notion to
glance at her house, when I saw what I have described to you. I could
not help remembering the time," she added, "for I had looked at the
clock but a moment before."

"And it was five minutes before noon?" broke again from the lawyer's
lips, in what was almost an awe-struck tone.

Troubled at an astonishment which seemed to partake of the nature of
alarm, she silently bowed her head.

"And you were looking at him--actually looking at him--that very moment
through a telescope perched a mile or so away?"

"Yes," she bowed again.

Turning his face aside, Mr. Orcutt walked to the hearth and began
kicking the burnt-out logs with his restless foot. As he did so, Imogene
heard him mutter between his set teeth: