"Yes, of course it's true," answered Thorne, seeing, at last, whom he faced.
"You never told me," fiercely returned Challoner. Thorne apparently was dumbfounded.
"Never told you? Why I must have told you," he stammered feebly.
"You never—" Challoner's voice suddenly broke. "And I thought all these years—and because I thought——"
He paused abruptly. Then Thorne, turning to Murgatroyd, boldly equivocated:
"It's preposterous! Of course I told him...."
Murgatroyd smiled grimly, and added gently to himself:—
"Never ... 'till now."
Thorne now waved Challoner aside, saying:—
"You must be mistaken, Mr. Challoner; I certainly told you—" And picking up his hat, once more turned his attention to the prosecutor.