hristopher Jervis," it said, "what is this that you are doing? Are you
a man of honour or nought but a mean, pitiful blackguard? You, the
trusted agent of this poor, misused gentleman, are you not planning in
your black heart how you shall rob him of that which, if he is a man at
all, must be more to him than his liberty, or even his honour? Shame on
you for a miserable weakling! Have done with these philanderings and
keep your covenants like a gentleman--or, at least, an honest man!"

At this point in my meditations Juliet turned towards me with a coaxing
smile.

"My legal adviser seems to be revolving some deep and weighty matter,"
she said.

I pulled myself together and looked at her--at her sparkling eyes and
rosy, dimpling cheeks, so winsome and lovely and lovable.

"Come," I thought, "I must put an end to this at once, or I am lost."
But it cost me a very agony of effort to do it--which agony, I trust,
may be duly set to my account by those who may sit in judgement on me.

"Your legal adviser, Miss Gibson," I said (and at that "Miss Gibson" I
thought she looked at me a little queerly), "has been reflecting that he
has acted considerably beyond his jurisdiction."

"In what respect?" she asked.

"In passing on to you information which was given to him in very strict
confidence, and, in fact, with an implied promise of secrecy on his
part."

"But the information was not of a very secret character, was it?"

"More so than it appeared. You see, Thorndyke thinks it so important not
to let the prosecution suspect that he has anything up his sleeve, that
he has kept even Mr. Lawley in the dark, and he has never said as much
to me as Anstey did this morning."

"And now you are sorry you told me; you think I have led you into a
breach of trust. Is it not so?" She spoke without a trace of petulance,
and her tone of dignified self-accusation made me feel a veritable worm.

"My dear Miss Gibson," I expostulated, "you entirely misunderstand me. I
am not in the least sorry that I told you. How could I have done
otherwise under the circumstances? But I want you to understand that I
have taken the responsibility of communicating to you what is really a
professional secret, and that you are to consider it as such."

"That was how I understood it," replied Juliet; "and you may rely upon
me not to utter a syllable on the subject to anyone."

I thanked her for this promise, and then, by way of making conversation,
gave