in the club-house. I did not like it; I was tempted at times
to go back."

"And why didn't you?"

"Because I was more of a brute than a brother--because Cuthbert Road drew
me in spite of myself--because--" He stopped with the first hint of
emotion we had seen in him since the morning. "I did not know what was
going on there or I should have gone back," he flashed out, with a
defiant look at his counsel.

Again sympathy was with him. Mr. Fox had won but little in this first
attempt. He seemed to realise this, and shifted his attack to a point
more vulnerable.

"When you heard your sister's voice in the club-house, how did you think
she had got into the building?"

"By means of the keys Ranelagh had left at the house."

"When, instead of taking the whole bunch, you took the one key you wanted
from the ring, did you do so with any idea she might want to make use of
the rest?"

"No, I never thought of it. I never thought of her at all."

"You took your one key, and let the rest lie?"

"You've said it."

"Was this before or after you put on your overcoat?"

"I'm not sure; after, I think. Yes, it was after; for I remember that I
had a deuce of a time unbuttoning my coat to get at my trousers' pocket."

"You dropped this key into your trousers' pocket?"

"I did."

"Mr. Cumberland, let me ask you to fix your memory on the moments you
spent in the hall. Did you put on your hat before you pocketed the key,
or afterwards?"

"My hat? How can I tell? My mind wasn't on my hat. I don't know when I
put it on."

"You absolutely do not remember?"

"No."

"Nor where you took it from?"

"No."

"Whether you saw the keys first, and then went for your hat; or having
pocketed the key, waited--"

"I did not wait."

"Did not stand by the table thinking?"

"No, I was in too much of a hurry."

"So that you went straight out?"

"Yes, as quickly as I could."

The district attorney paused, to be sure of the attention of the jury.
When he saw that every eye of that now thoroughly aroused body was on
him, he proceeded to ask: "Does that mean immediately, or as soon as you
could after you had made certain preparations, or held certain talk with
some one you called, or who called to you?"

"I called to nobody. I--I went out immediately."

It was evident that he lied; evident, too, that he had little hope from
his lie. Uneasiness was taking the place of confidence in his youthful,
untried, undisciplined mind. Carmel