“Why did we not secure him?” said Tarbot, knitting his brows.
“Oh, I think highly of my own man; and in any case Merriman had been previously retained for the defense.”
“It is a great pity we did not get him,” repeated Tarbot.
The lawyer said nothing. The doctor bade him good-by, and took his leave.
Tarbot went straight to see Mrs. Pelham. He told her briefly what had occurred, gave her a resumé of the present aspect of the case, and sitting down by her side, looked at her. The widow’s expression was nervous and worn to the last degree.
“You are not well,” he said.
She burst into tears.
“I wish I had never done it,” she cried.
“Done what, my dear madam?”
“What I have done—prosecuted Dick. I have broken the heart of the bravest girl in the world.”