I need not tell you, that I feel acutely the responsibility of having brought her here for trial, and especially of her present pitiable condition, which causes me sleepless nights.  If she should live, I shall make some investigation in a distant quarter, which may to some extent exculpate her, by proving her an accessory instead of principal.  My—­generous Leo, you shall be the first to whom I confide my solution—­when attained.  I am sorely puzzled, and harassed by conflicting conjectures; and you must be patient with me, if I appear negligent or indifferent to the privileges of that lovely shrine where my homage is due.”

“If you felt less keenly the distressing circumstances surrounding you, I should deeply regret my misplaced confidence in your character; and certainly you must acquit me of the selfishness that could desire to engross your attention at this juncture.”

Desirous of relieving him of all apprehension relative to a possible misconstruction of his motives and conduct, she left one hand in his, and laid the other with a caressing touch on his arm; an unprecedented demonstration, which at any other time would have surprised and charmed him.

“Ah, what a melancholy sight!  So much delicate refined beauty, in this horrible lair of human beasts!  Lennox, let us hope that the mercy of God will call her speedily to His own bar of justice, before she suffers the torture and degradation of trial, by earthly tribunals.”

She felt the slight shudder that crept over him, the sudden start with which he dropped her hand, and bent once more over the cot.

“God forbid she should die now, leaving the burden of her murder on my soul!”

His countenance was averted, but the ferver of his adjuration filled her with a vague sense of painful foreboding.

“Is it friendly to desire the preservation of a life, whose probable goal seems the gallows, or perpetual imprisonment?  Poor girl!  In the choice of awful alternatives, death would come here as an angel of mercy.”

Leo took Beryl’s hand in hers, and tears filled her eyes as she noted the symmetry of the snowy fingers, the delicate arch of the black brows, the exceeding beauty of the waving outline where the rich mahogany-hued hair touched the forehead and temples, that gleamed like polished marble.

“Is it friendly to wish an innocent girl to go down into her grave, leaving a name stained for all time by suspicion, if not absolute conviction of a horrible crime?”

Mr. Dunbar spoke through set teeth, and Leo’s astonishment at the expression of his countenance, delayed an answer, which was prevented by the entrance of Mrs. Singleton.

“Miss Gordon, your uncle wishes to know whether you are ready to go home; as he has an engagement that calls him away?”

Did Leo imagine the look of relief that seemed to brighten Mr. Dunbar’s face, as he said promptly: 

“With your permission, I will see you safely down stairs, and commit you to Judge Dent’s care.”