killing the Widow Clemmens."

Mr. Gryce, who had perhaps stretched a point when he so unequivocally
declared his complete confidence in the innocence of the man before him,
tapped his leg quite affectionately at this burst of natural
indignation, and counted off another point in favor of the prisoner. His
words, however, were dry as sarcasm could make them.

"No," said he, "for people know that Judge Evans was without the
opportunity for committing this murder, while every one remembers how
Mr. Orcutt went to the widow's house and came out again with tidings of
her death."

The prisoner's lip curled disdainfully.

"And do you expect me to believe you regard this as a groundwork for
suspicion? I should have given you credit for more penetration, sir."

"Then you do not think Mr. Orcutt knew what he was saying when, in
answer to Miss Dare's appeal for him to tell who the murderer was, he
answered: 'Blood will have blood!' and drew attention to his own violent
end?"

"Did Mr. Orcutt say that?"

"He did."

"Very well, a man whose whole mind has for some time been engrossed with
defending another man accused of murder, might say any thing while in a
state of delirium."

Mr. Gryce uttered his favorite "Humph!" and gave his leg another pat,
but added, gravely enough: "Miss Dare believes his words to be those of
confession."

"You say Miss Dare once believed me to have confessed."

"But," persisted the detective, "Miss Dare is not alone in her opinion.
Men in whose judgment you must rely, find it difficult to explain the
words of Mr. Orcutt by means of any other theory than that he is himself
the perpetrator of that crime for which you are yourself being tried."

"I find it difficult to believe that possible," quietly returned the
prisoner. "What!" he suddenly exclaimed; "suspect a man of Mr. Orcutt's
abilities and standing of a hideous crime--the very crime, too, with
which his client is charged, and in defence of whom he has brought all
his skill to bear! The idea is preposterous, unheard of!"

"I acknowledge that," dryly assented Mr. Gryce; "but it has been my
experience to find that it is the preposterous things which happen."

For a minute the prisoner stared at the speaker incredulously; then he
cried:

"You really appear to be in earnest."

"I was never more so in my life," was Mr. Gryce's rejoinder.

Drawing back, Craik Mansell looked at the detective with an emotion that
had almost the character