“Why, what do you mean, my dear? Why, in the name of reason and justice, could we not convict him?”
“Because the child he has carried off is his own,” calmly replied Miss Fronde.
“His?” demanded the dazed lawyer.
“His own child—the child of his deceased wife.”
“My dear Roma!” exclaimed the lawyer in utter amazement, while the parson opened wide his eyes and stared in consternation.
“Get in the carriage, Mr. Merritt, and I will explain as we go along. But first tell the coachman to take us back to the Goeberlin House. I would like to question the man who drove this hack. I would like to know exactly how the abduction was effected,” Miss Fronde said.
The lawyer gave the order and resumed his seat.
They reached the Goeberlin House, and sent a boy who was loitering on the sidewalk to fetch the hackman they wanted from the stables.
A young negro man answered the summons. He came up to the carriage door, bowed, and stood at attention.
Roma herself questioned him.