Volume Three—Chapter Twenty.
Under Pressure.
“Father, I am nearly mad with grief and horror. I come to you for help—for comfort. What shall I do?” cried Claire, sinking upon her knees before him on her next visit to the prison.
“What comfort can I give you, child?”
“Oh, father, dear father, were not our sufferings enough that this other trouble should come upon us? Fred—”
“Yes, tell me of him,” cried the old man excitedly. “Is he very bad?”
“Dangerously wounded, father. And this story of his! They believe it, father; what shall I do?”
“Do, my child?”
“They will take him and punish him for the crime. I fear they will, for he persists that it was he.”
“And you would save him and let me die,” said the old man bitterly.