Miss Cooper was dismissed, and Maillot was recalled. He denied any formal engagement between himself and Miss Fluette; but it soon became apparent, both from his manner and her growing vexation, pretty precisely what the relations between them really were. The jury learned that the young man's quest of the Paternoster ruby had not been undertaken without the stimulus of a very warm-hearted devotion.
Maillot was left sitting in the witness-chair while a new verdict was made out. It formally charged the young man with the murder of his uncle.
I afterward learned, by questioning the self-important foreman, that the first verdict had been an open one. The demand for Miss Cooper's testimony had been prompted by the "diversion"—I am using his own word—she had occasioned when she left the room, and afterward threw the proceedings into wild disorder by her scream. The interrupted verdict had failed to hold Maillot only by the narrowest margin; Miss Cooper's adventure had served to turn the scale against him.
"Look here," I demanded warmly, "don't you believe what she said?"
He smiled with an air of such superior knowledge that I very nearly cuffed his ears.
"Oh, I don't blame the young lady!—dear me, no!" he said, with a smirk. "Loyalty, you know. What do you think of it?"
I had turned to move away, much disgusted; but I lingered long enough to look him over curiously.
"What's your name?" I bluntly demanded.
"Griggs—Samuel B. Griggs."
"I think, Mr. Samuel B. Griggs—if you really want to know—that you 're a damned idiot."