"And I am sure I do not seek to frighten you," says he. "But to
the interrogation; and let me warn you to volunteer nothing beyond
the questions I shall ask you. It may consist very immediately
with your safety. I have a great discretion, it is true, but there
are bounds to it."

"I shall try to follow your lordship's advice," said I.

He spread a sheet of paper on the table and wrote a heading. "It
appears you were present, by the way, in the wood of Lettermore at
the moment of the fatal shot," he began. "Was this by accident?"

"By accident," said I.

"How came you in speech with Colin Campbell?" he asked.

"I was inquiring my way of him to Aucharn," I replied.

I observed he did not write this answer down.

"H'm, true," said he, "I had forgotten that. And do you know, Mr.
Balfour, I would dwell, if I were you, as little as might be on
your relations with these Stewarts. It might be found to
complicate our business. I am not yet inclined to regard these
matters as essential."

"I had thought, my lord, that all points of fact were equally
material in such a case," said I.

"You forget we are now trying these Stewarts," he replied, with