I was frightened for you--frightened! And I could not
tell why! I kept laughing at myself, trying to tease myself out of it, as
though it were simply--what you call it?--the 'blues'. And now--this!"
He nodded.
"And now--this," he said, grimly, and laughed.
Bennett, hand upon watch, turned apologetically at this juncture.
"Sorry, Sir Nigel," he said, "but time's up. Ten minutes is the time
allowed a prisoner, and--and--I'm afeared the young leddy must go. It
'urts me to tell you, sir, but--you'll understand. Dooty is dooty."
"Yes, doubtless, Bennett, though some people's idea of it is different
from others'," returned Merriton, with a bleak smile. "Have no fear,
'Toinette. There is still plenty of time, and I shall engage the
finest counsel in the land to stand for me. This knot shall be broken
somehow, this tissue of lies must have a flaw somewhere. And nowadays
circumstantial evidence, you know, doesn't hold too much water in a court
of law. God bless you, little 'Toinette."
She clung to him a moment, her face suddenly lightening at the tenor of
his words--so bravely spoken, with so little conviction behind them.
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