d."

"I do not see how," returned the prisoner.

The glance of Mr. Gryce settled confidentially on his right hand where
it lay outspread upon his ample knee.

"Mr. Mansell," he inquired, "have you no curiosity to know any details
of the accident by which you have unexpectedly been deprived of a
counsel?"

Evidently surprised at this sudden change of subject, Craik replied:

"If I had not hoped you would understand my anxiety and presently
relieve it, I could not have shown you as much patience as I have."

"Very well," rejoined Mr. Gryce, altering his manner with a suddenness
that evidently alarmed his listener. "Mr. Orcutt did not die immediately
after he was struck down. He lived some hours; lived to say some words
that have materially changed the suspicions of persons interested in the
case he was defending."

"Mr. Orcutt?"

The tone was one of surprise. Mr. Gryce's little finger seemed to take
note of it, for it tapped the leg beneath it in quite an emphatic manner
as he continued: "It was in answer to a question put to him by Miss
Dare. To the surprise of every one, she had not left him from the moment
they were mutually relieved from the weight of the fallen limb, but had
stood over him for hours, watching for him to rouse from his
insensibility. When he did, she appealed to him in a way that showed she
expected a reply, to tell her who it was that killed the Widow
Clemmens."

"And did Mr. Orcutt know?" was Mansell's half-agitated, half-incredulous
query.

"His answer seemed to show that he did. Mr. Mansell, have you ever had
any doubts of Mr. Orcutt?"

"Doubts?"

"Doubts as to his integrity, good-heartedness, or desire to serve you?"

"No."

"You will, then, be greatly surprised," Mr. Gryce went on, with
increased gravity, "when I tell you that Mr. Orcutt's reply to Miss
Dare's question was such as to draw attention to himself as the assassin
of Widow Clemmens, and that his words and the circumstances under which
they were uttered have so impressed Mr. Ferris, that the question now
agitating his mind is not, 'Is Craik Mansell innocent, but was his
counsel, Tremont Orcutt, guilty?'"

The excited look which had appeared on the face of Mansell at the
beginning of this speech, changed to one of strong disgust.

"This is too much!" he cried. "I am not a fool to be caught by any such
make-believe as this! Mr. Orcutt thought to be an assassin? You might as
well say that people accuse Judge Evans of