Then Bruce seemed to lose his head all at once, and began to rave.  It is impossible to transcribe the string of protestations, prayers for mercy, and horrible blasphemies; but there was enough of self-betrayal to complete the proof we wanted ten times told.  The detective chuckled more complacently than ever as he insinuated the handcuffs round Macbane’s wrists.  Over all Bruce’s cries, I remember, the old man’s harsh voice made itself heard, “Whisht, whisht, I tell ye, and keep a quiet tongue; they canna harm ye.”  The other did not seem to hear him, or to notice his removal by the officers, muttering, as he went, that “we had driven his master mad, and were killing him.”

Livingstone waited patiently till the outbreak had spent itself; then he said, “Get up, and come with us instantly.  You shall finish your night in Newgate.”

Tho sick man lay back for some moments with his eyes closed, panting and evidently quite exhausted.  When he opened his eyes there was a steadiness in them which surprised us.  He spoke, too, quite calmly.  “I do not mean to deny any thing, nor to resist, even if I could.  I am tired of running away; it is as well over; but I was taken by surprise at first.  Guy Livingstone, do you choose to listen to me for five minutes?  My head is clear now.  I do not know how long it will last; but I do know that, after to-night, I will never speak about Forrester’s death one word.”

“Will you tell me how you killed him?” Livingstone asked, controlling his voice wonderfully.

“That is what I wish to do,” Bruce said.  I believe he was glad of the opportunity of showing us how much we had misjudged him in thinking him harmless, for a curious sort of grin was hovering about his mouth.  Guy, whose eyes were bent down at the moment, did not see it, or the tale would never have been told.

“You know how you were all against me at Kerton,” he began.  “She did not care for me then, perhaps; but I would have been so patient and persevering that she must have loved me at last—­only you never gave me fair play.  Ah! do you think, because I was ugly and awkward, I had no chance?”

“No; but because she knew you were a coward,” Guy said.

There was something grand in the utter indifference with which Bruce met the insult.

“You are wrong,” he replied, coolly; “she did not know it.  You all did, and reckoned on my being long-suffering and inoffensive.  I saw, at last, what Forrester had done; yet I never guessed but that she would marry me.  I trusted to her father and her own fears for keeping her straight.  After marriage I would have tried still what great love and tenderness could do.  I meant—­never mind what I meant—­it’s all over now.  I was nearly mad for a week after their flight.  Then I became quite cool, and I said, ‘I will kill him myself.’  And so I did.  Mind, I swear, Allan knew nothing of it till all was done.  I thought I should be brave enough for that.  Fifty times during the months that I tracked them, always changing my disguise, I nearly caught him alone; but each time I was balked.  Wherever they went, I watched under their windows for the chance of his coming out; but I only saw—­”