"You get that evidence and have it here by two o'clock."
The men piled out in confusion. A moment later, Thorne took up his hat, and holding out his hand, repeated:—
"Accept my congratulations once more, Senator!" He turned to go, and then for the first time he saw the three people huddled together in the corner of the room. "Well," he suddenly exclaimed, "I thought we were alone. I didn't know...."
Challoner stepped out in front of him, and blurted out:—
"Mr. Thorne, I wish to know if it is true——"
Thorne, still not seeing who it was, nodded.
"Yes," he said in reply, "the prosecutor has been chosen—I'm down and out."
"You don't understand," returned Challoner; "is it true, true——"
"True?" repeated Thorne.
"True that you have known all these years that I was innocent of murder?" And Challoner squared his shoulders and lifted his head while he waited for his reply.