"With what words did you accost each other?"

"I don't know. I have no remembrance of saying any thing. I was utterly
dumbfounded at seeing him in this place, and cannot say into what
exclamation I may have been betrayed."

"And he? Don't you remember what he said?"

"No, sir. I only know he started back with a look of great surprise.
Afterward he asked if I were on my way to see him."

"And what did you answer?"

"I don't think I made any answer. I was wondering if he was on his way
to see me."

"Did you put the question to him?"

"Perhaps. I cannot tell. It is all like a dream to me."

If she had said horrible dream, every one there would have believed her.

"You can tell us, however, if you held any conversation?"

"We did not."

"And you can tell us how the interview terminated?"

"Yes, sir. I turned away and took the train back home, which I saw
standing on the track without."

"And he?"

"Turned away also. Where he went I cannot say."

"Miss Dare"--the District Attorney's voice was very earnest--"can you
tell us which of you made the first movement to go?"

"What does he mean by that?" whispered Hickory to Byrd.

"I think----" she commenced and paused. Her eyes in wandering over the
throng of spectators before her, had settled on these two detectives,
and noting the breathless way in which they looked at her, she seemed to
realize that more might lie in this question than at first appeared.

"I do not know," she answered at last. "It was a simultaneous movement,
I think."

"Are you sure?" persisted Mr. Ferris. "You are on oath, Miss Dare? Is
there no way in which you can make certain whether he or you took the
initiatory step in this sudden parting after an event that so materially
changed your mutual prospects?"

"No, sir. I can only say that in recalling the sensations of that hour,
I am certain my own movement was not the result of any I saw him take.
The instinct to leave the place had its birth in my own breast."

"I told you so," commented Hickory, in the ear of Byrd. "She is not
going to give herself away, whatever happens."

"But can you positively say he did not make the first motion to leave?"

"No, sir."

Mr. Ferris bowed, turned toward the opposing counsel and said:

"The witness is yours."

Mr. Ferris sat down perfectly satisfied. He had dexterously brought out
Imogene's suspicions of the prisoner's guilt, and knew that the jury
must be influenced in their convictions