"And you have been with me all night?"
"Yes, and summoned a physician. You see I was afraid you had been seriously injured."
Silas Keene bowed his head in thought for some moments. At length he looked up and held out his hand.
"Mr. Bordine, I have been a confounded fool."
"I hope not."
Yet the young man could not repress a laugh at the queer expression resting on the countenance of the detective.
"I arrested you for murder."
"Yes."
"For the murder of the Vane girl."
"Yes. You were in a hurry to win the reward—I forgive you, sir. It was simply a mistake."