rious enough, however; the imprint which I assumed
to have been made by a ring was so blurred as to leave wide latitude
for error respecting any deduction that I might make from it.

I gravely regarded young Maillot, and tried to picture him to myself in
the role of a murderer, but was obliged to own that such a thing was
exceedingly difficult to do. Still, all things are possible; and the
next few minutes had to determine whether I should take him or Burke
into custody--maybe both--or permit them to go about their business.

"Mr. Maillot," I said by and by, "I 'll tell you frankly: this business
looks pretty bad for you and Burke--unless between you you can help me
to place it in an entirely different light."

He paled, but met my level look steadily enough.

As I have already said, he was a good-looking chap, dark of hair, his
eyes gray, and he possessed an honest, open countenance that stood a
whole lot in his favor. He was tall, with a well-knit, athletic figure
that made me fancy he had been an heroic member of his university
football team.

But I have known just such men--steady, upright and governed by high
standards of conduct--to become in the twinkling of an eye red-handed
assassins.

Your man of lofty ideas and honor, in truth, is the more deeply
sensible of injury and sometimes the easiest incensed. He is the more
keenly hurt when his most sacred feelings are suddenly outraged.
Finish off his equipment with a hot, passionate temper, and his
resentment is likely to strike as blindly and as effectively as a bolt
from a surcharged thunder-cloud. It is the motive that either
palliates or makes the crime. A moment's previous reflection often
stays the hand from a deed which a lifetime of after regret can not
recall.

I could associate these possibilities with Maillot, and yet extend to
him my sympathy; for controlling impulses are infinitely various and
sometimes not to be held to account.

And so, too, could I have done with Burke, if he had betrayed one trait
of a nature to inspire sympathy or engage my goodwill. Still, I meant
not to be in the least influenced by my own feelings in the matter, nor
do I now believe that I was; I determined to be as just and impartial
as possible. Bear in mind that, as yet, I had been given no hint of
possible motive.

After a bit Maillot said very soberly:

"The possibility of such a thing never for instant occurred to me;
but--Swift--I suppose must meet it