* * * * *
"Poor soul," said Ronald, handing the letter to Foster; "I can understand--she knows her sister is guilty, and would shield her."
"Yes, I can see that," said Foster, glancing rapidly over the letter; "but how does she know her sister is guilty?"
"I don't know," said Ronald, blankly.
"Hum," answered Gerald, looking keenly at him; "let us look into this. In the first place, did you think she thought her sister guilty when you saw her?"
"No," eagerly; "I'm sure she did not."
"Then she must have seen some one in the meantime who told her the truth," returned Foster; "now, whom did you see in the meantime?"
"No one, except Vassalla," returned the Australian, innocently.
"Exactly," said the barrister, "you saw Vassalla, and told him you knew that he and Mrs. Verschoyle had lied regarding her movements on the night in question?"
"Well?"