y own judgment against hers."

"In this case she knows nothing about it."

"But to me it is of such vital importance! It is not simply that your
evidence is needed to punish the man; I would let the man go and all
the evil that he has done me. But not for any money that I could name
would I entertain such an opinion of my son. Were I convinced at this
moment that you are innocent, I should be a happy man."

"Then you may, father."

"But your manner is against you. You do not answer me with that
appearance of frankness which I should have expected."

"Of course it all makes me very miserable. How can a fellow be frank
when he's suspected like this?"

"Florian, do you give me your most solemn assurance that you saw
nothing of this evil work while it was being perpetrated?"

"Yes, father."

"You saw nothing, and you knew nothing?"

"No, father."

"You have no reason to accuse Pat Carroll, except by what you have
heard?"

"No, father."

"Nor anyone else?"

"No, father." Then Mr. Jones stood silent, looking at his son.
And the more he looked the more he doubted him. When the boy had
uttered "No, father," for the last time, Mr. Jones felt almost
convinced--almost convinced that Edith was right. "You may go now,
Florian," he said. And the boy departed, fully convinced that his
father had disbelieved him.

CHAPTER IV.

MR. BLAKE OF CARNLOUGH.

Three or four days after the occurrences narrated in the last
chapter, Mr. Jones got on to his car and had himself driven down to
Carnlough, the seat of Mr. Thomas Blake, a gentleman living about two
miles the other side of Tuam. To reach Carnlough he had a journey to
make of about ten miles, and as he seldom went, in these days, so far
away from home, the fact of his going was known to all the household.

"Father is going to Carnlough," Florian said to Peter, the butler.
"What is he going for?"

"'Deed, then, Master Flory, who can tell that? Mr. Blake is a very
old friend of master's."

"But why is he going now? It isn't often he goes to Carnlough; and
when he does go, he is sure to say why."

"I shouldn't wonder af he's going to ax him as to how he shall get
rid of the waters."

"He knows that better than Mr. Blake can tell him."

"Or maybe he's going to inquire how he shall cotch a hould of Pat
Carroll."

It was evident, from the butler's answers, that all the world at
Morony Castle felt that at present Mr. Jones could engage himself on
no othe