The young man turned even paler than before, dropped the plates he was holding, and fell into his chair as though he had been shot.
"Who--who says I was there?" he stammered.
"Mr. Joad--he accuses you."
"Accuses--acc----"--he could hardly get the words out--"accuses me--of what?"
"Of murdering Mr. Edermont. Allen, don't look at me like that. It is not true?"
"Dora," said Allen, shaking as with palsy, "I--I--I am--I am innocent. I--I swear--I'm innocent!"
[CHAPTER XIV.]
WHAT DR. SCOTT SAW.
Dora made no reply. In spite of his asseverations of innocence, she saw that he felt himself in a trap. His pallid face, his wild eyes, his trembling hands--all these signs hinted at a realization of his helpless position. Week by week since that fatal conversation he had grown thinner and more haggard. He was the shadow of the comely lover who had met her by the wayside when she had taken him to see Edermont. He looked round the room, as though searching for some means of escape. One would have thought that the officers of the law were already at the door, and that he was guilty. Dora knew that this was not the case, but could not be sure until she heard his explanation. Suddenly he threw up his hands with a gesture of despair.
"I was mad on that night," he said in a hoarse tone.