Arthur's eyes began to waver. "I can," said he. "I never wronged him. I always lamented his misfortune." "You were not the cause?" "Never!--so help me Heaven!" "Monster!" said Helen, turning away in contempt and horror. "Oh, that is it--is it?" said Arthur, wildly. "You break faith with me for _him?_ You insult me for _him?_ I must bear anything from you, for I love you; but, at least, I will sweep _him_ out of the path." He ran to the door, opened it, and there was Burt, listening. "Are you an officer?" "Yes." "Then arrest that man this moment: he is Robert Penfold, a convict returned before his time." Burt came into the room, locked the door and put the key in his pocket. "Well, sir," said he to Robert Penfold, "I know you are a quick hitter. Don't let us have a row over it this time. If you have got anything to say, say it quiet and comfortable." "I will go with you on one condition," said Robert. "You must take the felon as well as the martyr. This is the felon," and he laid his hand on Arthur's shoulder, who cowered under the touch at first, but soon began to act violent indignation. "Take the ruffian away at once," he cried. "What, before I hear what he has got to say?" "Would you listen to him against a merchant of the city of London, a man of unblemished reputation?" "Well, sir, you see we have got a hint that you were concerned in scuttling a ship; and that is a felony. So I think I'll just hear what he has got to say. You need not _fear_ any man's tongue if you are innocent." "Sit down, if you please, and examine these documents," said Robert Penfold. "As to the scuttling of the ship, here is the deposition of two seamen, taken on their death-bed, and witnessed by Miss Rolleston and myself." "And that book he tried to steal," said Helen. Robert continued: "And here is Undercliff's fac-simile of the forged note. Here are specimens of Arthur Wardlaw's handwriting, and here is Undercliff's report." The detective ran his eye hastily over the report, which we slightly condense. On comparing the forged note with genuine specimens of John Wardlaw's handwriting, no less than twelve deviations from his habits of writing strike the eye; and every one of these twelve deviations is a deviation into a habit of Arthur Wardlaw, which is an amount of demonstration rarely attained in cases of forgery. 1. THE CAPITAL L.--Compare in London (forged note) with the same letter in London in Wardlaw's letter. 2. THE CAPITAL D.--Compare this letter in "Date" with the same letter in "Dearest." 3. THE CAPITAL T.--Compare it in "Two" and "Tollemache." 4. The word "To"; see "To pay," in forged note and third line of letter. 5. Small "o" formed with a loop in the up-stroke. 6. The manner of finishing the letter "v." 7. Ditto the letter "w." 8. The imperfect formation of the small "a." This and the looped "o" run through the forged note and Arthur Wardlaw's letter, and are habits entirely foreign to the style of John Wardlaw.