And now Colonel Fletcher leaned forward to exhort him. "Captain
Tremayne," he said, "let me beg you to realise the serious
position in which you are placed."

"I assure you, sir, that I realise it fully."

"Do you realise that the statements you have made to account for
your movements during the half-hour that you were at Monsanto
have been disproved? You have heard Private Bates's evidence to the
effect that at the time when you say you were at work in the offices,
those offices remained in darkness. And you have heard Sir Terence's
statement that the documents upon which you claim to have been at
work were at the time in his own hands. Do you realise what
inference the court will be compelled to draw from this?"

"The court must draw whatever inference it pleases," answered the
captain without heat.

Sir Terence stirred. "Captain Tremayne," said he, "I wish to add
my own exhortation to that of your colonel! Your position has
become extremely perilous. If you are concealing anything that may
extricate you from it, let me enjoin you to take the court frankly
and fully into your confidence."

The words in themselves were kindly, but through them ran a note of
bitterness, of cruel derision, that was faintly perceptible to
Tremayne and to one or two others.

Lord Wellington's piercing eyes looked a moment at O'Moy, then
turned upon the prisoner. Suddenly he spoke, his voice as calm