with a mind full of vivid interest and breathless suspense; but that
report now lay before the eyes of a far different reader--one who was
animated by feelings far more intense, since it was the daughter of the
accused herself. That daughter also was one who hitherto had lived in an
atmosphere of innocence, purity, and love, one who shrank in abhorrence
from all that was base or vile; and this was the one before whose eyes
was now placed the horrible record that had been made up before the
world against her father's name.

The printed columns were pasted in such a way that a wide margin was
left, which was covered with notes in Miss Plympton's writing. To give
any thing like a detailed account of this report, with the annotations,
is out of the question, nor will any thing be necessary beyond a general
summary of the facts therein stated.

* * * * *




CHAPTER II


THE CONTENTS OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

On the date indicated in the report, then, the city of Liverpool and the
whole country were agitated by the news of a terrible murder. On the
road-side near Everton the dead body of a Mr. Henderson, an eminent
banker, had been found, not far from his own residence. The discovery
had been made at about eleven o'clock in the evening by some passers-by.