peculiarly mean and cruel way,
and then committed a deliberate and treacherous murder?"

"Wait a moment!" exclaimed Sir James, holding up his hand. "Those
adjectives, believe me, are unjust."

"I know that you think so," was the animated reply. "But I remember the
case; I have my own opinion."

"They are unjust," repeated Sir James, with emphasis. "Then it is really
the horror of the thing itself--not so much its possible effect on
social position and opinion, which decides you?"

"I ask myself--I must ask myself," said his companion, with equal
emphasis, forcing the words: "can I help Oliver to marry the
daughter--of a convicted murderess--and adulteress?"

"No!" said Sir James, holding up his hand again--"_No!"_

Lady Lucy fell back in her chair. Her unwonted color had disappeared,
and the old hand lying in her lap--a hand thin to emaciation--shook
a little.

"Is not this too painful for us both, Sir James?--can we continue it? I
have my duty to think of; and yet--I cannot, naturally, speak to you
with entire frankness. Nor can I possibly regard your view as an
impartial one. Forgive me. I should not have dreamed of referring to the
matter in any other circumstances."

"Certainly, I am not impartial," said Sir James, looking up. "You know
that, of course, well enough."

He spoke in a strong full voice. Lady Lucy encountered a singular
vivacity in the gray eyes, as though the whole power of the man's
personality backed the words.

"Believe me," she said, with dignity, and not without kindness, "it is
not I who would revive such memories."

Sir James nodded quietly.

"I am not impartial; but I am well informed. It was my view which
affected the judge, and ultimately the Home Office. And since the
trial--in quite recent years--I have received a strange confirmation of
it which has never been made public. Did Oliver report this to you?"

"He told me certain facts," said Lady Lucy, unwillingly; "but I did not
see that they made much difference."

"Perhaps he did not give them the right emphasis," said Sir James,
calmly. "Will you allow _me_ to tell you the whole story?--as it
appears to me."

Lady Lucy looked distressed.

"Is it worth while," she said, earnestly, "to give yourself so much
pain? I cannot imagine that it could alter the view I take of my duty."

Sir James flushed, and sternly straightened himself. It was a well-known
gesture, and ominous to many a prisoner in the dock.

"Worth while!