ON THE BRINK.
It was quite evident that the strong man was breaking down under the strain of these damning proofs. He would, apparently, have said more if he could, but his lips were dry, and the back of his throat appeared to have turned to ashes. With a shaking hand he lifted the glass of water which had been placed on a little ledge before him, and drank it down eagerly.
"What object do you expect to gain by this course?" the judge asked. "If you have any witnesses to call----"
Anstruther intimated that he had. The eager audience appeared to be disappointed. It was as if they had just witnessed the first act of a powerful drama which had ended abruptly owing to some unforeseen circumstance. Still, the prisoner was likely to have his own way over this, seeing that he was undefended by counsel; indeed, it was only fair that no obstacle should be put in his way.
"Very well, then," the judge said briefly. "The case is adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning."
Five minutes later the court was deserted, and another judge was listening to some prosaic case of no importance whatever. Seymour had made his way rapidly out of court, followed by a curious crowd. He was quite calm and collected, though he had taken the precaution to hide his features as much as possible. Jack and Rigby caught him just at the moment that he was entering his cab.
"Where are you going to?" the latter said. "I have got a thousand questions to ask you. Don't run away like this."
"I wasn't going anywhere in particular," Seymour explained. "I have nothing to do but to kill time. It seems to me that I have very little more to do in the way of ridding the world of Mr. Spencer Anstruther. Call it unchristian if you like, but there is a feeling deep in my heart that I shall be able to rest in future without the wild desire of always being at that fellow's throat. I don't think they will want me to-morrow morning."
"What do you suppose Anstruther is up to?" Jack asked.
"Suicide," said Seymour curtly. "I know that man far better than either of you. And if this verdict goes against him to-morrow--as assuredly it will--he will find some way of putting an end to his life."