Captain Bayley walked up and down the room with quick steps, uttering exclamations testifying his anger and annoyance. "Has he got any money?" he said suddenly, halting before Fred. "Did he get any money from you?" Fred hesitated again, and then said. "Well, uncle, since you insist upon knowing, I did let him have twenty pounds which I got for the sale of my books." "I believe, sir," the old officer said furiously, "that you encouraged him in this step, a step which I consider fatal to him." Fred hesitated again, and then said. "Well, uncle, I am sorry that you should be so angry about it, but I own that I did not throw any obstacle in the way." "You did not, sir," Captain Bayley roared, "and why did you not? Are you a fool too? Don't you see that this running away instead of facing matters out cannot but be considered, by people who do not know Frank, as a proof of his guilt, a confession that he did not dare to stay to face his accusers?" Fred was silent. "Answer me, sir," Captain Bayley said; "don't stand there without a word to explain your conduct. Do you or do you not see that this cowardly flight will look like a confession of guilt?" "I did see that, uncle," Fred said, "but I thought that better than a public expulsion." "Oh! you did, did you?" his uncle said sarcastically, "when you knew that if he had stopped quietly at home we should have proved his innocence in less than no time." Fred made no reply. "Do you think we shouldn't have proved his innocence?" roared his uncle. "I am sorry to say anything which is displeasing to you, uncle, but I fear that you would never have proved Frank's innocence." The words seemed to have a sobering effect on Captain Bayley. The blood seemed to die out of his face; he put one hand on a chair, as if to steady himself, while he looked fixedly in his nephew's face. "Do you mean, Fred," he said, in a low voice, "do you mean that you have a doubt of Frank's innocence?" "I should rather not say anything about it," Fred replied. "I hope with all my heart that Frank is not guilty, but----" "What do you think?" Captain Bayley repeated; "have you any grounds whatever for believing him guilty?" "No, sir, and I do not wish you to be in the slightest degree influenced by what I said." He paused, but Captain Bayley's eyes were still fixed upon him, as if commanding a complete answer. "Well, sir," he went on hesitatingly, "I must own that, sad as it is to say so, I fear Frank did it." "Did he confess it to you?" Captain Bayley asked, in a strained, strange voice.