“Besides, Mr. Whyte left the house long before Brian did,” she went on rapidly.  “You must remember—­it was when you quarrelled with Mr. Whyte.”

“My dear Madge,” said Frettlby, stopping in front of her with a displeased look, “you are incorrect—­Whyte and myself did not quarrel.  He asked me if it were true that Fitzgerald was engaged to you, and I answered ‘Yes.’  That was all, and then he left the house.”

“Yes, and Brian didn’t go until two hours after,” said Madge, triumphantly.  “He never saw Mr. Whyte the whole night.”

“So he says,” replied Mr. Frettlby, significantly.  “I believe Brian before any one else in the world,” said his daughter, hotly, with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes.

“Ah! but will a jury?” queried her father.

“You have turned against him, too,” answered Madge, her eyes filling with tears.  “You believe him guilty.”

“I am not prepared either to deny or confirm his guilt,” said Mr. Frettlby, coldly.  “I have done what I could to help him—­I have engaged Calton to defend him, and, if eloquence and skill can save him, you may set your mind at rest.”

“My dear father,” said Madge, throwing her arms round his neck, “I knew you would not desert him altogether, for my sake.”

“My darling,” replied her father, in a faltering voice, as he kissed her, “there is nothing in the world I would not do for your sake.”

Meanwhile Brian was sitting in his cell in the Melbourne Jail, thinking sadly enough about his position.  He saw no hope of escape except one, and that he did not intend to take advantage of.

“It would kill her; it would kill her,” he said, feverishly, as he paced to and fro over the echoing stones.  “Better that the last of the Fitzgeralds should perish like a common thief than that she should know the bitter truth.  If I engage a lawyer to defend me,” he went on, “the first question he will ask me will be where was I on that night, and if I tell him all will be discovered, and then—­no—­no—­I cannot do it; it would kill her, my darling,” and throwing himself down on the bed, he covered his face with his hands.

He was roused by the opening of the door of his cell, and on looking up saw that it was Calton who entered.  He was a great friend of Fitzgerald’s, and Brian was deeply touched by his kindness in coming to see him.

Duncan Calton had a kindly heart, and was anxious to help Brian, but there was also a touch of self interest in the matter.  He had received a note from Mr. Frettlby, asking him to defend Fitzgerald, which he agreed to do with avidity, as he foresaw in this case an opportunity for his name becoming known throughout the Australian colonies.  It is true that he was already a. celebrated lawyer, but his reputation was purely a local one, and as he foresaw that Fitzgerald’s trial for murder would cause a great sensation throughout Australia and New Zealand, he determined to take advantage of it as another step in the ladder which led to fame, wealth, and position.  So this tall, keen-eyed man, with the clean shaven face and expressive mouth, advanced into the cell, and took Brian by the hand.