Horace nodded. "She could not have made up such a clever yarn."
"Then why in Heaven's name," questioned the young man, rising, "did you not volunteer your evidence to save her?"
"Will it save her?"
"Assuredly! Everyone regards her story of being stupefied with the smoke as absurd. If you tell what we saw on Easter Island, in front of the statues——"
"Tell it yourself."
"I intend to. I am going to the Court now, and you," said Prelice with emphasis, "you are coming with me."
Horace knocked the ashes out of his pipe. "Why should I?" he demanded, with a stolid air.
"That's a long story," retorted Prelice restlessly.
"I can give you ten minutes. Don't talk through your hat."
Knowing his man, the visitor did not waste time, but bluntly detailed how he came to be drawn into the Lanwin murder case. But he naturally suppressed his feelings for the beautiful prisoner, and put down his interest, with some emphasis, to pure friendship for Shepworth. On reaching the end of the Hythe portion of the story, he paused to draw breath. "Is that all?" asked Horace grimly.