"Did you? Really? What a curious character yours is. And am I to take it that you were uneasy?"
"Uneasy? I--I loathed myself."
"Not actually? I can only assure you that you concealed the fact with admirable skill."
"And--I loathed you."
"Under the circumstances, that I don't wonder at at all. You would. I even go further. Please listen to me carefully, Miss Arnott, and read, as you very well can, the meaning which is between the lines. If a certain matter goes as, judging from present appearances, it very easily may go, I may have to take certain action which may cause you to regard me with even greater loathing than you are doing now. Do not mistake me on that point, I beg of you."
"If I understand you correctly, and I suppose I do, you are quite right in supposing that I shall regard you with feelings to which no mere words are capable of doing justice. I had not thought you were that kind of man."
Events marched quickly. Jim Baker was brought up before the magistrates three times, and then, to Miss Arnott's horror, he was committed for trial on the capital charge. She could hardly have appeared more affected if she herself had been committed. When the news was brought to her by Day, the butler, who still remained in her service, she received it with a point-blank contradiction.
"It's not true. It can't be true. They can't have done anything so ridiculous."
The old man looked at his young mistress with curious eyes, he himself seemed to be considerably disturbed.
"It's quite true, miss. They've sent him to take his trial at the assizes."