Frederick, thus called upon, nay, forced to speak, raised his head, and without perhaps bestowing so much as a thought on the young man behind him who was inwardly quivering in anxious expectancy of some betrayal on his part which would precipitate disgrace and lifelong sorrow on all who bore the name of Sutherland, met Dr. Talbot’s inquiring glance with a simple earnestness surprising to them all, and said: 

“My record is so much against me that I am not surprised that you wonder at my being left with Mrs. Webb’s fortune.  Perhaps she did not fully realise the lack of estimation in which I am deservedly held in this place, or perhaps, and this would be much more like her, she hoped that the responsibility of owing my independence to so good and so unfortunate a woman might make a man of me.”

There was a manliness in Frederick’s words and bearing that took them all by surprise.  Mr. Sutherland’s dejection visibly lightened, while Sweetwater, conscious of the more than vital interests hanging upon the impression which might be made by this event upon the minds of the men present, turned slightly so as to bring their faces into the line of his vision.

The result was a conviction that as yet no real suspicion of Frederick had seized upon either of their minds.  Knapp’s face was perfectly calm and almost indifferent, while the good coroner, who saw this and every other circumstance connected with this affair through the one medium of his belief in Amabel’s guilt, was surveying Frederick with something like sympathy.

“I fear,” said he, “that others were not as ignorant of your prospective good fortune as you were yourself,” at which Frederick’s cheek turned a dark red, though he said nothing, and Sweetwater, with a sudden involuntary gesture indicative of resolve, gazed for a moment breathlessly at the ship, and then with an unexpected and highly impetuous movement dashed from the room crying loudly: 

“I’ve seen him!  I’ve seen him! he’s just going on board the ship.  Wait for me, Dr. Talbot.  I’ll be back in fifteen minutes with such a witness—­”

Here the door slammed.  But they could hear his hurrying footsteps as he plunged down the stairs and rushed away from the building.

It was an unexpected termination to an interview fast becoming unbearable to the two Sutherlands, but no one, not even the old gentleman himself, took in its full significance.

He was, however, more than agitated by the occurrence and could hardly prevent himself from repeating aloud Sweetwater’s final word, which after their interview at Mr. Halliday’s gate, the night before, seemed to convey to him at once a warning and a threat.  To keep himself from what he feared might prove a self-betrayal, he faltered out in very evident dismay: 

“What is the matter?  What has come over the lad?”

“Oh!” cried Dr. Talbot, “he’s been watching that ship for an hour.  He is after some man he has just seen go aboard her.  Says he’s a new and important witness in this case.  Perhaps he is.  Sweetwater is no man’s fool, for all his small eyes and retreating chin.  If you want proof of it, wait till he comes back.  He’ll be sure to have something to say.”