His tone was contemplative.
"I suppose they wouldn't--no. So, if he is found guilty, and is sentenced to be hung, he will actually go to the gallows under the impression that he deserves his fate. I never heard of anything so curious."
It occurred to me that not the least curious part of the situation was the fashion in which he appeared to regard it from the point of view of a mere outsider. He continued to gaze at the fire. Presently he smiled again.
"And now may I venture to ask you why you have told me this extremely interesting scrap of news?"
"Because I intend to save the life of an innocent man."
"How?"
"By laying the real facts of the case before the police."
"Unless I do what? I suppose there is something I can do to save myself. Otherwise you would have laid the real facts of the case before the police before."
"There certainly is a way by which you can constrain me to silence."
"Oh, yes; there are several ways of doing that."