"So now the curtain is rung up for the last act!"
Rodd grasped one of his foster brother's hands in both his, and for a few moments the two stood looking into each other's eyes.
Then Drelincourt said, "Come," and with that he led the way to his own room, where there was less likelihood of their being intruded upon.
"And of course the judge held out no hope of mercy?" he recommenced, as soon as he had seated himself and motioned Rodd to another chair.
"None whatever. The fact of Gumley having confessed to the robbery seemed to be accepted both by judge and jury as conclusive evidence that he must be guilty of the other crime."
"His counsel----"
"Urged every point in his favor that could be urged, but to no purpose.
"Poor devil! What must his sensations have been when he heard his doom pronounced! But in a little while, as at the wave of a necromancer's wand, the weight of that dread sentence shall be lifted off his heart, and life shall once more taste sweet in his mouth."
"Felix! What would you do?"
"Can you ask? I thought it was long ago understood between us what my course was to be should the worst ever come to pass. The worst has come to pass--as I have felt all along it would surely do some day--and it has now, to be faced. Could anything be more simple?"