"But I suppose you will own that the fellow is guilty?"
"No, father. I am quite sure that he is no more guilty than I am."
"What folly!" he ejaculated angrily.
"I do not think it is folly at all. I know Ralph Penlogan better than you do, and I know he is incapable of such a thing. At the Assizes you will be made to look incredibly foolish."
"What? what?" he ejaculated.
"Here, all the magistrates belong to your set. They had made up their minds beforehand. No unprejudiced jury in the world would ever convict on such evidence."
"Child," he said angrily, "you don't know what you are talking about."
"And even if he were convicted," she went on, with flashing eyes, "I should know all the same that he is innocent."
He looked at her almost aghast. This was worse than his worst suspicions.
"Then you have made up your mind," he said, with a brave effort to control himself, "to believe that he is innocent, whatever judge or jury may say?"