He dared not meet Ruby’s eyes—with every one watching them so intently. He was furious with his counsel, and determined to prevent Ruby convicting herself at all costs. He drank in every word, and his brain was busy endeavouring to see how he could defeat her loving sacrifice, and prevent her confession from being her ruin. She had taken the oath, given her name and calling, and was now listening to the reading of her affidavit by Mr. Marshall. When he had finished he handed it to the Judge, and asked her a few questions, to which she replied in monosyllables. Presently he asked her: "Did you see Mr. Despard that day?" "Yes." "Did he see the cheque in your hand?" "I object, m’ Lord!" said Mr. Mathews. "I am not leading," replied Mr. Marshall. "I submit it is a leading question, m’ Lord, and, further, that it is not evidence, unless my learned friend intends to call Mr. Despard." "Will you put your questions in another form, Mr. Marshall?" "Certainly, my Lord, though I had no intention of leading at all. Did you have anything in your hand when Mr. Despard called?" "Yes," said Ruby, "the cheque." "Did he see it?" "I object!"—from Mr. Mathews. "Really, my Lord, I must protest at this continual interruption," Mr. Marshall said. The Judge interposed, and the question was put in another form. "Do you think he saw the cheque in your hand?" "Yes, I feel sure he did." Mr. Marshall at last finished, and Mr. Mathews at once rose and cross-examined. His questions were very searching; he asked about her engagement to Rupert, and she admitted with pride that she loved him devotedly. "Yes, she was deeply affected by his present position—she knew he was innocent." "Supposing he had been guilty—she would willingly take his place?" "Yes." "There was no sacrifice too great to make for him—her future husband?" "None." "She had come to-day with no other object than to save him?" "Yes," Ruby replied again. "That is why I made the affidavit now before the Court." Then the counsel’s manner, entirely changed, and instead of leading her easily and pleasantly with smiling questions that she had only to agree to with an eager "Yes," he began to ask her questions which she found it difficult to answer at all; and presently he made her contradict herself. "Now, please be careful, Miss Strode; you distinctly told us just now that you wrote the note to the bank asking them to give the money to the messenger boy, and now you say that it was written by the prisoner. What are we to understand?" Poor Ruby was by now thoroughly frightened, and hardly knew what she was saying. "I—I mean Mr. Dale wrote it for us, and I sent it. You see, I did not want him to get into trouble!" "Oh! So you knew he would get into trouble if he was found out?" "Yes, of course—I mean—that is—Oh, dear, you know he did not do it, and I swear I did it all—all myself. Oh, Rupert, Rupert, they won’t believe me after all!" She burst into a storm of tears.