“Enough to frighten any one, appearing like a ghost at the window when we believed he was dead.”
“I did not mean that, uncle. I mean that he was in a terrible state of fever, and hardly seemed accountable for his actions. I think I should have felt obliged to go with him, even if he had not been so determined.”
“Ah! well, you’ve talked about it quite enough.”
“No, no; I must talk about it—about Harry. Oh! uncle! uncle! after all this suffering for him to be taken after all! The horror! the shame! the disgrace! You must—you shall save him!”
“I’m going to try all I know, my darling; but when once you have started the police it’s hard work to keep them back.”
“How could you do it?”
“How could I do it?” cried the old man testily. “I didn’t do it to find him, of course; but to try and run you to earth. How could I know that Harry was alive?”
“But you will not let him be imprisoned. Has he not suffered enough?”
“Not more than he deserves to suffer, my child; but we must stop all that judge and jury business somehow. Get Van Heldre not to prosecute.”
“I will go down on my knees to him, and stay at his feet till he promises to spare him—poor foolish boy! But, uncle, what are you going to do? You will not send word down?”