But Shirley was not yet satisfied. And her eyes were blazing as she exclaimed hotly:—
"It was not you who set him free! The law set him free! He was innocent, and——" She paused and drew a deep breath before going on: "You took a million dollars to set him free!"
Murgatroyd rose suddenly, and turning to Mrs. Challoner, he said with great earnestness:—
"This is the second time this charge has been made against me: once at the trial, and again here. You understand the nature of this charge?" he asked Shirley, looking her full in the eyes. "What proofs have you?"
Shirley pointed to Challoner's wife, and answered:—
"Mrs. Challoner is my proof."
Murgatroyd turned his gaze now on Miriam, whose expression of joy had not changed, and asked:—
"Mrs. Challoner, do you renew this charge?"
But before Mrs. Challoner could answer, Shirley broke in with:—
"Prosecutor Murgatroyd, a moment please!" And on the prosecutor's turning his gaze on her, she continued: "You know I am speaking the truth! Mrs. Challoner has tried to convince me that this bribe was not a crime, inasmuch as you had kept faith with her; but she knows as well as you do what my opinion is on the subject. I told you in the court-room what I thought, and again on another occasion—I have not changed. No, you are not honest," she concluded, mercilessly; "you've stolen, you're a——"