"Of the significance of law terms I know nothing; and of the usages of courts I am equally ignorant. If, as you suggest, I should waive an examination, should I escape imprisonment?" "No." "Then I must be tried at once; because I want to hurry back to my mother who is ill, and needs me." "But you have no counsel as yet, and delay is your best policy." "Delay might cost my mother's life. I have no money to pay a lawyer to stand up and mystify matters, and my best policy is to defend myself, by telling the simple truth." Again Judge Dent sighed. Could guilt be masked by this fair semblance of childlike guilelessness? "Can you summon any witnesses to prove that you were not at Elm Bluff on the night of the storm?" "Yes, the ticket agent knows I was in the waiting-room during that storm." He shook his gray head. "He will be one of the strongest witnesses against you." "Then I have no witnesses except--God, and my conscience." The door opened, and with his watch in his hand the deputy sheriff entered. "Sorry to shorten your interview, Judge, but you know we have a martinet in yonder, a regular Turk, and he splits seconds into fractions." As Judge Dent withdrew, Beryl realized that her hour of woe had arrived, and she began to pin her veil tightly over her face. "Come along--You can't keep your veil on. Try to be as non-committal as possible when they ask you crooked questions. Of course I want justice done, and I hope I am a faithful servant of the law; but if you are as innocent as a flock of ring-doves, the lawyers will try to confuse you." He attempted to lead her, but she drew back. "I will follow you; but please do not hold my arm; do not touch me." A moment later, a door opened and closed, a glare of light showed her a crowded room; a monotonous hum like the swell of the sea fell on her ear; then stifled ejaculations, to which succeeded a sudden, deathlike hush. The officer placed a chair for her in front of the platform where the magistrate sat, and retired to the rear of the room. With some difficulty Judge Dent made his way through the throng of spectators, and seated himself beside Mr. Dunbar. "Well, sir, how did the prisoner impress you?" asked the latter, as he folded up a paper. "Dunbar, you have made a mistake. I have spent the best of my life in the study of criminals; and if that woman yonder is not innocent, I am in my dotage." "Pardon me, Judge, if I dispute both propositions. I made no mistake; and you are merely, in the goodness of your heart, and the fervor of your chivalry, dazzled momentarily by the glamour of extraordinary beauty and touching youth."