"It can't be true," Shirley Bloodgood was heard to say, half aloud.
Broderick crept up close to Thorne and nudged him. The latter interpreted correctly the action.
"Let Mrs. Challoner go on," suggested Thorne; and the Court ordered Mrs. Challoner to proceed.
"That's all," said Miriam, quite close to the prosecutor now, "except what I have to say to Mr. Murgatroyd."
And now as she stood before him, her eyes glistening, her breast heaving, remembering only that she was a woman robbed of her mate, she cried:—
"I am going to make you suffer for this as you made him suffer in this court-room," and she waved her hand toward Challoner. "I'll invoke every law against you," she went on, "and if the law can't help me, I'll spend my life to make you pay for this. You made an agreement with me and you must keep it, or I will...." Suddenly she sank exhausted into the chair next to Challoner and buried her face upon the prisoner's shoulder.
"Laurie, Laurie," she sobbed in her despair. For the first time Challoner showed some feeling; he found her hand and patted it with affection for a moment.
The justice shook his head. Presently he said incredulously:—
"Mrs. Challoner, this is a terrible charge to make."
She sprang up but immediately sank back again.