me this?"

"Because it has much to do with the occasion of my coming here, Mr.
Mansell," proceeded Mr. Gryce, in that tone of completely understanding
himself which he knew so well how to assume with men of the prisoner's
stamp. "I am going to speak to you without circumlocution or disguise. I
am going to put your position before you just as it is. You are on trial
for a murder of which not only yourself, but another man, was suspected.
Why are you on trial instead of him? Because you were reticent in regard
to certain matters which common-sense would say you ought to be able to
explain. Why were you reticent? There can be but one answer. Because you
feared to implicate another person, for whose happiness and honor you
had more regard than for your own. Who was that other person? The woman
who stood up in court yesterday and declared she had herself committed
this crime. What is the conclusion? You believe, and have always
believed, Miss Dare to be the assassin of Mrs. Clemmens."

The prisoner, whose pallor had increased with every word the detective
uttered, leaped to his feet at this last sentence.

"You have no right to say that!" he vehemently asseverated. "What do you
know of my thoughts or my beliefs? Do I carry my convictions on my
sleeve? I am not the man to betray my ideas or feelings to the world."

Mr. Gryce smiled. To be sure, this expression of silent complacency was
directed to the grating of the window overhead, but it was none the less
effectual on that account. Mr. Mansell, despite his self-command, began
to look uneasy.

"Prove your words!" he cried. "Show that these have been my
convictions!"

"Very well," returned Mr. Gryce. "Why were you so long silent about the
ring? Because you did not wish to compromise Miss Dare by declaring she
did not return it to you, as she had said. Why did you try to stop her
in the midst of her testimony yesterday? Because you saw it was going to
end in confession. Finally, why did you throw aside your defence, and
instead of proclaiming yourself guilty, simply tell how you were able to
reach Monteith Quarry Station in ninety minutes? Because you feared her
guilt would be confirmed if her statements were investigated, and were
willing to sacrifice every thing but the truth in order to save her."

"You give me credit for a great deal of generosity," coldly replied the
prisoner. "After the evidence brought against me by the prosecution, I
should think my guilt would