ild was one of the motives
that induced me to investigate Aileen's case, when we saw her that night
at the vaudeville."

He looked at Champney, who, at the mention of Aileen's name, had started
involuntarily. "You remember that night?" Champney nodded. How well he
remembered it! But he gave no further sign.

"I was destined for the priesthood later on, but that did not stifle the
love in my heart for the young girl. It was in my novitiate years. I
never dared ask myself what the outcome of it all would be; I wanted to
finish my novitiate first. I knew she loved me with a charming, open,
young girl's love that in the freedom of our household life--her
grandfather was my great-uncle on my mother's side--found expression in
a sisterly way; and in the circumstances I could not tell her of my
love. It was the last year of my novitiate when I discovered the fact
that a young man, in the employ of her grandfather, was paying her
attention with the intention of asking her of him in marriage. The mere
thought of the loss of her drove me half mad. I took the first
opportunity, when at home for the holidays, to tell her my love, and I
threatened, that, if she gave herself to another, I would end
all--either for myself or for him. The girl was frightened, indignant,
horrified almost, at the force of the passion that was consuming me;
she repelled me--that ended it; I took it for granted that she loved
that other. I lay in wait for him one night as he was going to the
house; taunted him; heaped upon him such abuse as makes a man another's
murderer; I goaded him into doing what I had intended. He struck me in
the face; closed with me, and I fought him; but he was wrestling with a
madman. We were on the cliff at Dieppe; the night was dark;
intentionally I forced him towards the edge. He struggled manfully,
trying to land a blow on my head that would save him; he wrestled with
me and he was a man of great strength; but I--I knew I could tire him
out. It was dark--I knew when he went over the edge, but I could see
nothing, I heard nothing....

"I fled; hid myself; but I was caught; held for a time awaiting the
outcome of the man's hurt. Had he died it would have been manslaughter.
As it was I knew it was murder, for there had been murder in my heart.
He lived, but maimed for life. The lawyer, paid for by my great-uncle,
set up the plea of self-defence. I was cleared in the law, and fled to
America to expiate. I know now that there wa