.

He was right, after all.

'You are innocent, signor, and you decline to do anything to help
yourself? Permit me. No man ever did God's work in the world by refusing
to help himself. You have some reason for your refusal? What possible
reasons exist? Guilt? We will dismiss that at once.

Despair of establishing innocence? No. When the salt mines of Sardinia
are on one side a man and liberty is on the other, he does not yield to
despair. Ha! The impossibility, signor, of defending oneself unless
one criminates another? And that other a friend--a lover? I am right,
signor. No gestures of denial can throw down a conclusion so obviously
firm. And now, suppose that it should not be necessary to criminate
another. Would you then consent to be defended? No? Well, signor, I am
not the accusatore pubblico, and it is no business of mine to hunt down
criminals. But, whether you will or not, I will get to the bottom of
this matter.'

'Are you so eager for a case, signor?' I asked him. 'I will pay you more
to leave me alone than you can ask if you defend me.'

I had meant to sting him into leaving me. But his pale face did not even
flush at the insult.

'I am engaged by my friend Ratuzzi, signor. Ratuzzi tells me it is
beyond dreaming that you should be guilty of murder and theft. He came
to me and besought me to make him grateful for all eternity by taking
up this case and clearing you from the suspicions which rest upon you.
I have promised him that I will do all in my power, and I will. You will
observe, therefore, signor, that whatsoever is done in this matter is
independent of your will, if you choose to have it so. I shall know who
committed this murder in a fortnight from now, and I shall only retire
from your defence if I prove you guilty in my own mind.'

'Signor,' I said in answer, 'I apologise for the insult I offered you
just now. But in this matter I am resolute. If it be the will of God
that I suffer innocently, I suffer. I am not anxious on that score. It
is not at all a matter for my consideration. I do not care whether I am
acquitted or found guilty.'

'Is it your wish that I should consult the other prisoner's interest at
all?'

I looked at him blankly, whilst my heart stood still.

'The other prisoner?' I asked.

'The other prisoner,' he answered calmly. 'Is it he whom you desire to
shield?'

'Who is he?'

The advocate drew forth a bundle of memoranda, and turned them over
carefully and at his