“Yes, yes, I know—­you are so good-hearted, so true!  But haven’t I told you?  Must I go over it again?  The ring, the blood—­”

“Margaret!”

“And that note, and the quarrels, and all.  Didn’t they prove that I was guilty?  Yes, they proved it, and I must—­must—­ Will they hang me or electrocute me?  I wonder how it feels to be hung or electrocuted?” She gave a hollow, bitter laugh.  “I’ll soon know, I suppose!” And then she fell back on her pillow exhausted.

The nurse had been aroused by the talking and stood in the doorway.  She gazed questioningly at the young man.

“Did you wake her up?”

“No, she roused up and insisted upon talking.”

“She ought to be kept quiet.  I’ll give her another powder.”

“Had you not better wait until the specialist arrives?”

“Well, we can do that—­if he isn’t delayed too long.”

After that the time dragged heavily.  Just before train time Raymond took a coach to the depot and there met the specialist and told his story as the pair were driven rapidly to the house.

“It is a purely nervous shock, undoubtedly,” said the specialist.  “I will first find out from the nurse what the other doctor has given her.”

He was soon in consultation with Martha Sampson.  In the midst of this Doctor Bird arrived.  The local physician was willing enough to transfer the case to new hands.

“I am of the opinion that she is guilty,” he said in private to the specialist.  “Mr. Case, of course, thinks differently.  You can figure it out to suit yourself,” and he told exactly what he had done and then went away, not to return.

Doctor Fanning watched at the sufferer’s side for over an hour, before Margaret roused up again.  The girl was very weak and spoke disconnectedly, but always in the same strain.  She went over the scene at the inquest several times, and spoke of the blood on the engagement ring, as if that was the crown of her misfortunes.  Then she sat up suddenly and looked at the new doctor.

“Are you the judge?” she demanded.  “If you are I will tell you all.  I am guilty—­they proved it!  I am guilty! guilty! guilty!” she repeated the words over and over again, until she fell back on the pillow as before.  Then she became delirious and it took both the nurse and Raymond to hold her.  The doctor speedily opened up his case of medicines and gave her a hypodermic injection in the forearm.  Then he made an examination of the patient, lasting some time.

“I will be plain with you, Mr. Case,” he said, drawing the young man to another room.  “This is a serious matter—­a very serious matter indeed.  I believe you think the young lady innocent of the crime of which she is accused?”

“I am willing to stake my life on it.  She is raving now, that is all.”

“Um!” The specialist nodded slowly and thoughtfully.  “Well then, we can only hope for the best.  I had better stay with her, at least to-day and to-morrow—­there may be another turn to her condition shortly.”