“The parties were correct in their evidence, as it appeared to them.”
“And yet you are not guilty!”
“I am not; I shall plead not guilty, and leave my fate to the jury.”
“Are you mad? Your sister is a sweet young woman, and has interested me greatly; but, if innocent, you are throwing away your life.”
“I am doing my duty, sir; whatever you may think of my conduct, the secret dies with me.”
“And for whom do you sacrifice yourself in this way, if as, you say, and as your sister declares, you are not guilty?”
Joey made no reply, but sat down on the bedstead.
“If the deed was not done by you, by whom was it done?” urged Mr Trevor. “If you make no reply to that, I must throw up my brief.”
“You said just now,” returned Joey, “that if I declared myself guilty of the murder, you would still defend me; now, because I say I am not, and will not say who is, you must throw up your brief. Surely you are inconsistent.”
“I must have your confidence, my good lad.”