He no longer felt the irons that Leonard Hust was filing away.  He seemed to feel a strength that would have snapped them like pack threap.  He was a man now, a free man, and not a thing of accident; a thing for the world to point at in scorn, not an abandoned child of shame.  No, he felt nerved at once by this singular, this almost miraculous discovery, and could hardly restrain his impatience.  Yet a shadow for a moment crossed over his brow, as he thought of that brother, who could coldly look on and see him sacrificed, knowing what he must and surely did know.  Could he have permitted such a result, had he been in Robert’s place?  Indeed, he felt he could not.

“Does not my brother know that you are here on this errand, Leonard?”

“If he did it would cost me my life,” said the honest fellow.

Charles would have placed some favorable construction upon the case, but, alas, he could not; there was no possible way of disguising the matter.  Robert was the same bitter, jealous-spirited soul that had rendered his childhood miserable.  Time had not improved him,—­it was his nature and could not be eradicated.  Charles now realized this, and within a few further inquiries of Leonard, touching matters of vital interest to him, he resolved not to seek Robert, as he had at the outset intended, neither would he avoid him.  He knew no other person save him could bring a continuance of the suit against him, but he hardly feared that even he would do that.

“Of course Helen Huntington knows nothing of this development yet, Leonard?”

“No, sir, and master Robert bid me be careful not to let her find it out, or to say one word about the matter to any one whatever.  I wonder the lady didn’t know you, sir.”

“You forget that even Robert did not recognize me.”

“And that, too, seemed funny to me.  Why, sir, I seemed to know you the instant I set eyes on you in the court, and when I got close I soon settled the doubt in my mind.”

“Well, my good fellow, it seems that but for you I might have been hanged, and that, too, by my own bother; but I trust all is set right now.”

“I hope so, sir, only you must not let master Robert know that I liberated you from these ruffles, sir, will you, master Charles?”

“Never fear me, Leonard, I shall not do as you were about to do towards me, give testimony that will in any way criminate you.”

“But I wasn’t, sir, of my own free will, only master Robert had told me what I must say, and stick to it, and swear to it through thick and thin, and I’m afraid not to obey him.”

“Poor fellow, I see you are, indeed, his tool; but if I find myself in any sort of a position ere long, I will take care to make your situation more comfortable.”

“Thank ye, sir,” said Leonard Hust, just as the last shackle dropped from the prisoner’s wrists.