“But what could have been Mr. Merrick’s object in shadowing you?”

“I cannot say.  It may have been only part of his professional vigilance in letting nothing escape his observation; but from the first I was conscious of his close espionage of my movements.  Now, however, I am satisfied that he had none but friendly intentions, and I appreciate his kindness, not only towards myself, but more especially towards you.”

“Will that statement be of any assistance to you, do you think?”

“I hardly think so under our present plans,” he replied, after a moment’s reflection; “under recent developments our plans differ so radically from what we first intended, that we will probably have little use for any of the testimony which we had originally prepared.”

“But these recent developments which have so changed your plans must certainly have been in your favor and have rendered your success the more assured, have they not?”

“Not only more assured, but more speedy and complete.  To me, the coming trial means far more than the settlement of the controversy over the estate; it means the complete and final vindication of my character, so that I can stand before you and before the world acquitted of every charge which my enemies would have sought to bring against me.”

Her face grew radiant with sympathy.  “I well know what that means to you, and I would be first to congratulate you on such a victory, for your own sake; but I needed no public acquittal to convince me of your innocence, — not even,” she added, slowly, “when you yourself for some reason, which I hope one day to understand, were unable to assure me of it.”

His dark eyes, glowing with suppressed feeling, met hers, the intensity of their gaze thrilling her heart to its inmost depths.

“Do not think that I can ever forget that,” he said in low tones which seemed to vibrate through her whole being; “do not think that through any triumphs or joys which the future may bring, I can ever forget, for one moment, the faith and love which stood loyally by me in my darkest hour, — the hour when the shadow of the crime, which has forever darkened Fair Oaks, was closing about my very soul!”

Startled at the sudden solemnity of his words and manner, she remained silent, her eyes meeting his without a shade of doubt or distrust, but full of wondering, tender inquiry, to which he replied, while for an instant he laid his hand lightly and caressingly on hers, “Only a few days longer, love, and I will tell you all!”

On the morning of the following day a dense crowd awaited, at an early hour, the opening of the December term of court; a crowd which was steadily augmented till, when the case of Mainwaring versus Mainwaring was called, every available seat was filled.  All parties to the suit were promptly on hand, and amid a silence almost oppressive, proponent and contestant, with their counsel and witnesses, passed down the long aisle to their respective places.