Accident—­shall I say Providence—­unexpectedly brought this witness to light.  The curtain so long looped back, was recently lowered, and when, two days ago, the outside blinds were opened, there lay your complete vindication.  Crowds have seen it; the newspaper issued an ‘extra’, and so general was the rejoicing, that a public demonstration would have been made here at the gaol, had not Churchill and I harangued the people and assured them it would only annoy and embarrass you.  So you are free.  Free to shake the dust of X—–­forever from your feet; and it must comfort your proud soul to know that you do not owe your liberty to the mercy of a community which wronged you.  I forbade Singleton to tell you, to allow any premature hint to reach you; for I claimed the privilege of bringing the glad tidings.  Last night I spent in that room at ‘Elm Bluff’, guarding that door; and the vigil was cheered by the picture hope drew, that when I came to-day you would greet me kindly; would lay your dear hands in mine, and tell me that, at least, gratitude would always keep a place for me warm in your noble heart.  I have my recompense in the old currency of scorn.  It were well for you if you had shown me your hatred less plainly; now I shall indulge less hesitation in following the clue the lightning lays in my grasp.  I warn you that your release only expedites his arrest; for you can never pass beyond my surveillance; and the day you hasten to him, seals his fate.  Long imprisoned doves, when set free, fly straight to their distant mates; so—­take care—­lest the hawk overtake both.”

Looking up at him, listening almost breathlessly to the tale of a deliverance that involved new peril for Bertie, the color came slowly back to her blanched face, and her parted lips quivered.

“If the picture means anything, it proves that Gen’l Darrington made the assault with the brass andiron, and in the struggle that followed, the man you saw might have killed him in self defence.”

“When he is brought to trial in X—­he shall never be allowed the benefit of your affectionate supposition.  I promise you, that I will annihilate your tenderly devised theory.”

He ground his teeth in view of the transparent fact, that she was too intently considering the bearing of the revelation upon the safety of another, to heed the thought of her own escape from bondage.

The little cluster of flowers fastened at her throat had become loosened, and fell unnoticed into her lap.  He stooped, picked them up, and straightened them on his palm.  When his eyes returned to Beryl, she had bowed her face in her shielding hands.

How little he dreamed that she was silently praying for strength to deny the cry of her own beating heart, and to keep him from making shipwreck of the honor which she supposed was still pledged to Leo!  Security for her brother, and unswerving loyalty to the absent woman who had befriended her in the darkest hours of the accusation, were objects difficult to accomplish simultaneously; yet at every hazard she would struggle on.  Because she had learned to love so well this man, who was the promised husband of another, conscience made her merciless to her own disloyalty.