“I am not telling a lie now.”
“I am tempted to believe you. But why, then, act as if you were guilty? When those men came here to-day, you knew what they wanted; you resigned yourself, voluntarily, a prisoner. When Mr. Galloway questioned you privately of your innocence, you could not assert it.”
Neither could he now in a more open way than he was doing.
“Can you look me in the face and tell me, in all honour, that you know nothing of the loss of the note?”
“All I can say, sir, is, that I did not take it or touch it.”
“Nay, but you are equivocating!” exclaimed Mr. Channing.
Arthur felt that he was, in some measure, and did not gainsay it.
“Are you aware that to-morrow you may be committed for trial on the charge?”
“I know it,” replied Arthur. “Unless—unless—” he stopped in agitation. “Unless you will interest yourself with Galloway, and induce him to withdraw proceedings. Your friendship with him has been close and long, sir, and I think he would do it for you.”
“Would you ask this if you were innocent?” said Mr. Channing. “Arthur, it is not the punishment you ought to dread, but the consciousness of meriting it.”