But Fyles remained unmoved, except that the harshness had gone out of his manner.
“It is not I who am obstinate,” he said soberly. “It is you, Miss Kate. What if I told you I had irrefutable circumstantial evidence against him? Would that turn you from your faith in him?”
The woman shook her head.
“It would be merely circumstantial evidence,” she said. “God knows how circumstance has filled our penitentiaries wrongfully,” she added bitterly.
“And but for circumstance our population of wrongdoers at large would be greater by a thousand per cent.,” retorted the officer.
“That is supposition,” smiled Kate.
“Which does not rob it of its possibility in fact.”
The two sat looking at each other, silently defiant. Kate was smiling. A great excitement was thrilling her, and she liked this man all the better for his blunt readiness for combat, even with her.
Fyles was wondering at this woman, half angry, half pleased. Her strength and readiness appealed to him as a wonderful display.
He was the first to speak, and, in doing so, he felt he was acknowledging his worsting in the encounter.