"Colonel Thornton, if there is anything strange and eccentric in my looks and manner, you must set it down to the strangeness of the position in which I am placed."
"My dear young lady, Miss Thornton is at the hotel to-day. Will you permit me to take you to her?"
"You will do as you please, Colonel Thornton, after you shall have heard my testimony and examined the proofs I have to lay before you. Then I shall permit you to judge of my soundness of mind as you will, premising, however, that my sanity or insanity can have no possible effect upon the proofs that I submit," she said, laying a packet upon the table between them.
Something in her manner now compelled the magistrate to give her words an attention for which he blamed himself, as for a gross wrong, toward his favorite clergyman.
"Do I understand you to charge Mr. Willcoxen with the death of Miss
Mayfield?"
"Yes," said Miriam, bowing her head.
"What cause, young lady, can you possibly have for making such a monstrous and astounding accusation?"
"I came here for the purpose of telling you, if you will permit me. Nor do I, since you doubt my reason, ask you to believe my statement, unsupported by proof."
"Go on, young lady; I am all attention."
"Will you administer the usual oath?"