The reverend pastor, with a mute gesture of compassion, sorrow, and regret, was about to leave the cell, when he was stayed by the prisoner, who exclaimed, “Now, I think of it, you had better, sir, remain.  The statement I am about to make cannot, for the sake of the victim’s reputation, and for her friends’ sake, have too many witnesses.  You both remember Jane Eccles?” A broken exclamation from both of us answered him, and he quickly added—­“Ah, you already guess the truth, I see.  Well, I do not wonder you should start and turn pale.  It was a cruel, shameless deed—­a dastardly murder if there was ever one.  In as few words as possible, so you interrupt me not, I will relate my share in the atrocious business.”  He spoke rapidly, and once or twice during the brief recital, the moistened eye and husky voice betrayed emotions which his pride would have concealed.

“Jane and I were born in Hertfordshire, within a short distance of each other.  I knew her from a child.  She was better off then, I worse than we subsequently became—­she by her father’s bankruptcy, I by my mo—­, by Mrs. Barton’s wealthy marriage.  She was about nineteen, I twenty-four, when I left the country for London.  That she loved me with all the fervor of a trusting woman I well knew; and I had, too, for some time known that she must be either honorably wooed or not at all.  That with me, was out of the question, and, as I told you, I came about that time to London.  You can, I dare say, imagine the rest.  We were—­I and my friends, I mean—­at a loss for agents to dispose of our wares, and at the same time pressed for money.  I met Jane Eccles by accident.  Genteel, of graceful address and winning manners, she was just fitted for our purpose.  I feigned re-awakened love, proffered marriage, and a home across the Atlantic, as soon as certain trifling but troublesome affairs which momently harassed me were arranged.  She believed me.  I got her to change a considerable number of notes under various pretexts, but that they were forged she had not and could not have the remotest suspicion.  You know the catastrophe.  After her apprehension I visited this prison as her brother, and buoyed her up to the last with illusions of certain pardon and release, whatever the verdict, through the influence of my wealthy father-in-law, of our immediate union afterwards, and tranquil American home.  It is needless to say more.  She trusted me, and I sacrificed her; less flagrant instances of a like nature occur every day.  And now, gentlemen, I would fain be alone.”

“Remorseless villain!” I could not help exclaiming under my breath as he moved away.