in an hour, knew of anything that passed between the husband and
wife the last time they ever met on earth."

"But you might have overheard--no doubt were listening--if my lord was
indeed in that place at all. This is no evidence, even if a woman,
convicted by her own confession of a crime she now seeks to cast upon
another, could bear witness."

Rachael Closs spoke out clearly now, and her eyes, shining with the
ferocity of a wild animal at bay, turned full upon the old woman who
accused her.

The old woman put a hand into her bosom and drew out a small poniard.
Rachael Closs gave a sharp gasp, and snatched at the poniard, but the
old woman held it firmly.

"Lord Hope, this has been in your hands a hundred times. When did you
part with it? To what person did you give it? Your crest is on the
handle; her blood rusts the blade."

Lord Hope lifted both hands to conceal the horror that was on his face,
to shut out the weapon from his sight.

"Oh! my God! my God! spare me more of this!"

The proud noble was shaking from head to foot. The veins swelled purple
on his forehead. The sight of that slender weapon swept away his last
doubt. Lady Hope shrank back from his side, but watched him keenly in
her agony of guilt and dread. Her proud figure withered down, her
features were locked and hard, but out of their pallor her great eyes
shone with terrible brilliancy. Her husband's hands dropped at last, and
he turned a look of such despairing anguish upon her that a cry broke
from her lips.

"You--you condemn me?"

Lord Hope turned from her, shuddering.

"You know! you know!"

He remembered giving her this poniard on the very day of her crime. He
had been in the habit of carrying it with him when travelling, and
though sharp as a viper's tongue, it, with the daintily enamelled
sheath, was a pretty table ornament, and she had begged it of him for a
paper cutter. He had seen the sheath since, but never the poniard, and
now the sight of it was a blow through the heart.

"I picked it up by her bed that morning, after the murder. There is a
person in the castle who saw me take it from the place where it had
fallen. If any one here doubts me, let them ask a person called Margaret
Casey--let them ask her."

That moment the door of the room opened, and Hepworth Closs stood on the
threshold. He had been informed of Lady Carset's illness, just as he was
leaving the castle, and came back only to hear that she was gone. The