"Mansell's?" completed the lawyer, turning upon her in a burst of fury he no longer had power to suppress. "Is that your cry—always and forever your cry? You drive me too far, Imogene. This mad and senseless passion for a man who no longer loves you——"
"Spare me!" rose from her trembling lips. "Let me forget that."
But the great lawyer only laughed.
"You make it worth my while to save you the bitterness of such a remembrance," he cried. Then, as she remained silent, he changed his tone to one of careless inquiry, and asked:
"Was it to tell this story of the prisoner having fled from his aunt's house that you came here to-night?"
Recalled to the purpose of the hour, she answered, hurriedly:
"Not entirely; that story was what Mr. Ferris expected me to testify to in court this morning. You see for yourself in what a position it would have put the prisoner."
"And the revelation you have received?" the lawyer coldly urged.
"Was of a deception that has been practised upon me—a base deception by which I was led to think long ago that Craik Mansell had admitted his guilt and only trusted to the excellence of his defence to escape punishment."
"I do not understand," said Mr. Orcutt. "Who could have practised such deception upon you?"