im in that
spontaneous way this morning, what do you suppose was passing through
his mind? What was he thinking? Remember that he hadn't seen her
since the day of the trial, and then ask yourself what thoughts those
two kisses would suggest to him."

"I don't know. That she was glad to see him, I suppose."

"A great deal more than that. A judge doesn't stop short at those
superficial views of things. He looks deep down into the more
recondite emotions of the human heart. As soon as he felt those kisses
he said to himself: 'Here is a poor girl who's really sorry for what
she's done--'"

"I thought you said he didn't believe she'd done it. I certainly
don't."

"As a judge he doesn't; but I'm speaking of him now as an uncle, a
simple unofficial uncle. As an uncle he can't help recollecting poor
Lorimer, but he'll want to give his niece every possible fair play, and
as soon as she showed signs of penitence--her kisses were a pretty
convincing sign of penitence, considering the way he summed up against
her--he'd be all for burying the past and letting her get a fresh start
in life if she could."

"Of course I don't attach the smallest importance to anything you've
said. I don't believe, in the first place, that Miss King is Mrs.
Lorimer. I don't believe any judge would try to hang his own niece. I
don't believe, if he had tried her, he'd go and stop in the house with
her afterwards, and I'm perfectly certain he wouldn't kiss her. But
you apparently like to pretend to me that you do believe all the rot
you've been talking, and that being so, I'd rather like to know what
you intend to do next."

"It doesn't in the least matter to you what I do," said Meldon. "If
I'm the kind of drivelling idiot you make out, my actions are of no
importance, either to you or to any one else."

"All the same, I'd like to know what they're going to be."

"Why?"

"So that I can do my best to prevent their doing any irreparable
mischief, if possible; though I don't expect it is possible."

"I shall do no irreparable mischief to any one," said Meldon; "except
Simpkins; and you always said you wanted him poisoned."

"I never said such a thing."

"Keep cool, Major. There's no use losing your temper. You and Doyle
and O'Donoghue all said you'd be glad to gloat over Simpkins' corpse.
If you hadn't said so I shouldn't be taking all this trouble. If I
didn't still believe that you hate Simpkins I should drop the matter at