t he was
sure the Englishman had known nothing of the crime. The prisoner had
told him her story without haste or passion. He had been struck by
that. She said that she killed. Don Bartolome in a hurry lest he
should kill both her and her benefactor. She had not informed him, nor
had he reported to the gentleman, that she was going to Madrid. The
Englishman said that he intended to find her, and witness had strongly
advised him against it. He had told him that his motives would be
misunderstood. "As, in fact, they have been, brother?" the advocate
suggested. Fray Juan raised his eyebrows, and sighed. "_Quien sabe?_"
was his answer.

Manvers then stood up and spoke his testimony. He gave the facts as
the reader knows then, and made it clear that Manuela was in terror of
Esteban from the moment he appeared, and even before he appeared. He
had noticed that she frequently glanced behind them as they rode, and
had asked her the reason. Her fear of him in the wood was manifest,
and he blamed himself greatly for leaving her alone with the young man.

"I was new to the country, you must understand," he said. "I could see
that there was some previous acquaintance between those two, but could
not guess that it was so serious. I thought, however, that they had
made up their differences and gone off together when I returned from
bathing. When Pray Juan showed me the body and told me what had been
done I was very much shocked. It had been, in one sense, my fault, for
if I had not rescued her, Esteban would not have suspected me, or
intended my death. That I saw at once; and my desire of meeting
Manuela again was that I might defend her from the consequences of an
act which I had, in that one sense, brought about--to which she had, at
any rate, been driven on my account."

"I will ask you, sir," said the Judge, "one question upon that. Was
that also your motive in having the crucifix set in pure gold?"

"No," said Manvers, "not altogether. I doubt if I can explain that to
you."

"I am of that opinion myself," said the Judge, with an elaborate bow.
"But the court will be interested to hear you."

The court was.

"This girl," Manvers said, "was plainly most unfortunate. She was
ragged, poorly fed, had been ill-used, and was being shamefully handled
when I first saw her. I snatched her out of the hands of the wretches
who would have torn her to pieces if I had not interfered. From
beginning to end I never