The crowd drew a long breath. Surely there had never been so enjoyable a sensation as this!
Mr. Edgar, still groping for light, went on:
“Again my duty compels me to ask you why, if you loved Lord Clydesfold, and knew nothing of his marriage, did you marry Mr. Bradstone?”
Intense silence.
Her face went white, almost deathlike; then Mr. Edgar pointed to the Testament on which she had sworn.
“The whole truth; you have sworn!” he said.
“Because”—her voice faltered—“because he promised to give me the money to save my father——”
A cry rose from beneath her, and the squire sprang forward.
“Silence! Silence!” shouted the usher.
The judge leaned forward, the crowd murmured their astonishment.