believe them on their oath."

"Hush! hush! Miss Blake," entreated our opponent. "I am afraid you must
not be quite so frank. Now to return to business. When Miss Elmsdale
recovered consciousness, which she did in that very comfortable
easy-chair in the dining-room--what did she tell you?"

"Do you think I am going to repeat her half-silly words?" demanded Miss
Blake, angrily. "Poor dear, she was out of her mind half the time, after
her father's death."

"No doubt; but still, I must just ask you to tell us what passed. Was it
anything like this? Did she say, 'I have seen my father. He was coming
out of the strong-room when I lifted my head after looking for Juan, and
he was wringing his hands, and seemed in some terrible distress'?"

"God forgive them that told you her words," remarked Miss Blake; "but
she did say just those, and I hope they'll do you and her as played
eavesdropper all the good I wish."

"Really, Miss Blake," interposed the judge.

"I have no more questions to ask, my lord," said Colonel Morris'
counsel, serenely triumphant. "Miss Blake can go down now."

And Miss Blake did go down; and Taylor whispered in my ear:

"She had done for us."