“A mystery it is your business to solve,” corrected the district attorney.  “Nothing that you have told us in support of your innocence would, in the eyes of the law, weigh for one instant against the complicity shown by that one piece of circumstantial evidence against you.”

Her smile carried a certain high-handed denial of this to one heart there, at least.  But her words were humble enough.

“I am aware of that,” said she.  Then, turning to where Sweetwater stood lowering upon her from out his half-closed eyes, she impetuously exclaimed:  “You, sir, who, with no excuse an honourable person can recognise, have seen fit to arrogate to yourself duties wholly out of your province, prove yourself equal to your presumption by ferreting out, alone and unassisted, the secret of this mystery.  It can be done, for, mark, I did not carry that flower into the room where it was found.  This I am ready to assert before God and before man!”

Her hand was raised, her whole attitude spoke defiance and—­hard as it was for Sweetwater to acknowledge it—­truth.  He felt that he had received a challenge, and with a quick glance at Knapp, who barely responded by a shrug, he shifted over to the side of Dr. Talbot.

Amabel at once dropped her hand.

“May I go?” she now cried appealingly to Mr. Courtney.  “I really have no more to say, and I am tired.”

“Did you see the figure of the man who brushed by you in the wood?  Was it that of the old man you saw on the doorstep?”

At this direct question Frederick quivered in spite of his dogged self-control.  But she, with her face upturned to meet the scrutiny of the speaker, showed only a childish kind of wonder.  “Why do you ask that?  Is there any doubt about its being the same?”

What an actress she was!  Frederick stood appalled.  He had been amazed at the skill with which she had manipulated her story so as to keep her promise to him, and yet leave the way open for that further confession which would alter the whole into a denunciation of himself which he would find it difficult, if not impossible, to meet.  But this extreme dissimulation made him lose heart.  It showed her to be an antagonist of almost illimitable resource and secret determination.

“I did not suppose there could be any doubt,” she added, in such a natural tone of surprise that Mr. Courtney dropped the subject, and Dr. Talbot turned to Sweetwater, who for the moment seemed to have robbed Knapp of his rightful place as the coroner’s confidant.

“Shall we let her go for the present?” he whispered.  “She does look tired, poor girl.”

The public challenge which Sweetwater had received made him wary, and his reply was a guarded one: