She feared her own tongue, she feared her own anger, and stopped.  “Speak,” she whispered, and it was the most ghastly whisper that ever left mortal lips.  I was but a foot from her and she held me as by a strong enchantment.  I could not help obeying her.

“To make it all clear,” I pursued, “I must go back to the time I rejoined James in Philemon’s room.  He had finished his letter when I entered and was standing with it, sealed, in his hand.  I may have cast it a disdainful glance.  I may have shown that I was no longer the same man I had been when I left him a half-hour before, for he looked curiously at me for a moment previous to saying: 

“’Is that the wallet you have there?  Was Mr. Orr conscious, and did he give it to you himself?’ ‘Mr. Orr was conscious,’ I returned,—­and I didn’t like the sound of my own voice, careful as I was to speak naturally,—­’ but he fainted just before I came out, and I think you had better ask the clerk as you go down to send someone up to him.’

“James was weighing the pocket-book in his hand.  ’How much do you think there is in here?  The debt was ten thousand.’  I had turned carelessly away and was looking out of the window.  ’The memorandum inside gives the figures as two thousand,’ I declared.  ’He apologises for not sending the full amount.  He hasn’t it.’  Again I felt James looking at me.  Why?  Could he see that guilty wad of bills lying on my breast?  ‘How came you to read the memorandum?’ he asked.  ‘Mr. Orr wished me to.  I looked at it to please him.’  This was a lie—­the first I had ever uttered.  James’s eyes had not moved.  ‘John,’ said he, ’this little bit of business seems to have disturbed you.  I ought to have attended to it myself.  I am quite sure I ought to have attended to it myself.’  ‘The man is dying,’ I muttered.  ’You escaped a sad sight.  Be satisfied that you have got the money.  Shall I post that letter for you?’ He put it jealously in his pocket, and again I saw him look at me, but he said nothing more except that he repeated that same phrase, ’I ought to have attended to it myself.  Agatha might better have waited.’  Then he went out; but I remained till Philemon came home.  My brother and myself were no longer companions; a crime divided us,—­a crime he could not suspect, yet which made itself felt in both our hearts and prepared him for the revelation made to him by Mr. Gilchrist some weeks after.  That night he came to Sutherlandtown, where I was, and entered my bedroom—­not in the fraternal way of the old days, but as an elder enters the presence of a younger.  ‘John,’ he said, without any preamble or preparation, ’where are the five thousand dollars you kept back from Mr. Gilchrist?  The memorandum said seven and you delivered to me only two.’  There are death-knells sounded in every life; those words sounded mine, or would have if he had not immediately added:  ’There!  I knew you had no stamina.  I have taken your crime on myself, who am really to blame for it, since