I tremble to think what might have happened but for you.’
‘It might have been a little awkward, certainly,’ said Birnie.
‘Indeed it might. Well, when the Bon Espoir went down, and I thought it was all up with me, like a cursed fool that I was, I wrote out a confession and gave it to a clergyman. I confessed that I had stabbed my cousin.’
‘Good Heavens! you didn’t do that?’ exclaimed Birnie, his calm face agitated for once.
‘Yes, I did. And that cursed confession must have been preserved, in some miraculous way, when the ship went down, for it floated ashore yesterday and my written words are in the papers. Thank goodness! it’s not all decipherable; but there’s no knowing what chemicals may do. Birnie, I must go away again; and this time, I fear, for good. There is God’s hand in this. I shall never know what peace is again.’
Dr. Birnie was fairly astonished. Gurth had never taken him so completely into his confidence as this before.
‘Gurth Egerton,’ he said, presently, ‘you must be mad!’
‘I was, to sign such a damning document as that.’
‘And to confess a crime which you never committed.’
‘But,’ stammered Gurth, ‘you know I——’