“I do not give you permission to do anything but leave him and let his conscience be his accuser.” “But who is to be responsible for his appearance if we find he is guilty of the act for which you denounced him?” “I will be. We have been friends,” she said softly, as she half turned to where Robert stood with arms folded and eyes cast down. For an instant Lettice’s heart melted within her, and she took a step forward, but she retreated again to Mr. Baldwin’s side. “Take me home,” she said faintly, “and let this affair be settled there. My horse is but a few steps back.” “I will bring him to you,” Mr. Baldwin said, “and yes, I shall be glad to defer this. You understand,” he said, turning to Robert, “I am at your service when you will. This address will always find me.” He handed out a card with an elaborate bow. He stood evidently thinking deeply. “If you are innocent, sir,” he went on to say, “you will not be afraid to answer a few questions should you be required to do so. If you are guilty, you owe your escape from immediate arrest to the good offices of this young lady. Whatever may be my own opinion, I owe you no more of an apology than you do me, and in the interest of my country I am bound to say that you are free only through extreme tolerance.” And he turned away. Lettice and Robert stood facing each other. “How could you? How could you?” Lettice murmured. “This dark suspicion has blighted all the memory of our happy hours.” “This dark suspicion, indeed,” replied the young man. “And you will not clear yourself, will not tell me?” she said eagerly. “But give up the papers, and I will screen you and will think of you as gently as I can.” “I have said that I have no papers.” Lettice wrung her hands. “O dear! O dear! if you would but be candid and tell me, I could help you, I could indeed. For the sake of our past friendship, will you not tell me?” He came to her side. “Lettice,” he began; then dropping the hand he had taken, he turned away. “’Twould be no use,” he said. “Farewell, the dream is over. Tell your friend that I shall not run away either from arrest or from him.” And he sprang on his horse and disappeared into the woods, leaving Lettice with her face buried in her hands. She brushed away her tears as Mr. Baldwin approached, and stood ready to mount her horse again. They were fairly on their way when he spoke. “This is a hard ordeal for a young lady to go through, Miss Hopkins, but I cannot leave the subject just yet. You are very positive that my late adversary, whose name, by the way, I do not know, is the one who took the papers?” “No, I am not certain. I only think so because he saw me secure them, and because he is violently opposed to the war, and belongs to the Peace party. I know he has been very energetic in working for his side.” “It looks suspicious, certainly.” “Yet it would be a shame to arrest a man, unless we were sure.” “Yes, I think so, too.”