taken by surprise, was speechless, at first, then found his tongue and fell to blustering and threatening; but Hendon was tranquil, and waited with patience till his breath was spent; then said —

“I have a liking to thee, friend, and would not willingly see thee come to harm. Observe, I heard it all — every word.

I will prove it to thee.” Then he repeated the conversation which the officer and the woman had had together in the hall, word for word, and ended with —

“There — have I set it forth correctly? Should not I be able to set it forth correctly before the judge, if occasion required?”

The man was dumb with fear and distress, for a moment; then he rallied, and said with forced lightness —