She told the main facts of the story slowly, distinctly as to a stupid person.
"Good God! how terrible!" he muttered. "How quick can I get back to New York? It was suicide of course. He had cause enough."
"What cause?" Pen asked quickly.
"He had swindled and betrayed me," Counsell said bitterly. "And I found him out ... But he's dead! I'm sorry now for the things I said to him!" His thoughts flew off at a tangent. "But how is it you came to tell me ... and like this?" He was looking at her submerged feet.
"My father feels it his duty to give you up," said Pen. "I gained a little time by making believe to be ill. He will be here later with other men."
"Well, that's all right," said Counsell. "It's all got to be sifted to the bottom of course. They can't have any case against me."
"They have a complete case against you," said Pen. "And don't you see, they think you ran away." She gave him the points of the evidence against him.
"That's bad," he said gravely. "My revolver, eh? I had lost it! ... But you didn't believe it!" he cried warmly.
"I'm not a man," said Pen simply.
"Anyhow, it doesn't alter things," he said. "I've got to go back. They couldn't send an innocent man to the chair."