The servant left the room. Shirley sank into a chair and half covered her face with her hands.
"I don't believe—I never will believe that Lawrence did these things!"
There was a pause. After a moment Murgatroyd remarked half aloud:—
"There is but one way to reform a man like that——"
The prosecutor did not finish, for standing in the doorway was Miriam Challoner, pale as a ghost, a look of interrogation in her eyes. Shirley ran quickly to her.
"Miriam, dear, I didn't send for you!" she cried, placing an arm around her. "It was Mr. Murgatroyd...."
Mrs. Challoner bowed and smiled faintly.
"I believe I have met Mr. Murgatroyd before," she said with a grace peculiarly her own.
Murgatroyd returned her greeting with:—
"I need not assure you, Mrs. Challoner, that this is a very painful duty."