"Confessed to killing Miser Farebrother myself. I was there, and might have done it, and would if I'd seen him, as sure as there's a God above us, if I'd had a notion of what things were coming to! Yes; if I'd said as much they'd have been bound to believe me, and Miss Phoebe would have been set free. You see, sir, there was every reason for my killing him; he treated me like a dog for years, and I hated him worse than poison. Are you a lawyer, sir?" "Yes," replied Garden; "and I am assisting Mr. Cornwall in this matter that we all have so much at heart. I do not at all despair of proving Miss Farebrother's innocence even yet." "There's only one way of doing that, sir, if it can be done legally. I'd like to ask you a question, if you wouldn't mind answering it." "Go on, Tom." "Would it be too late for me to go to the police-station now, and give myself up for the murder? If they'd only believe me I should be a happy man again. Then Miss Phoebe would be saved, and everything'd be right." "It is too late for that, Tom. Besides, it would be depriving us of the chance of bringing the crime home to the guilty parties and making them suffer for it." "Ah! if we could do that, sir, it would be the happiest day's work that ever was done in this cruel world! I'd be content to die the day after." "Well, I am not at all sure that we shall not manage it," said Garden, "and perhaps, Tom, it all depends upon you." "Upon me, sir!" cried Tom; and Fred also turned to Garden in surprise. "Perhaps upon you. We shall soon know if the tack I am on will bring us safe into port." "Your inspiration, Dick?" asked Fred, anxiously. "My inspiration, Fred," said Garden, gravely. "If the tack is a wrong one, we'll try another. Now, Tom, you have nothing to reproach yourself with. You could do no less than speak the truth." "I could, sir; I could have held my tongue." "There is no possibility of your being mistaken in any part of the evidence you gave?" "Unluckily no, sir. I say so to you because you're Miss Phoebe's friend; but if I had the opportunity now I'd swear the other way." "Don't speak like that, Tom. What we want is to save Miss Farebrother honestly and honourably: that is our first great object. The next is to bring the murderers to justice. You were not in court during the whole of the trial." "No, sir. I was told when to go to give my evidence, and then I had to go back to my duty." "You were not aware, before you answered the questions as to the woman you saw in the grounds at Parksides and the dress she wore, that other witnesses were examined with respect to the colour of the dress Miss Farebrother had on when she left her aunt's house?" "No, sir, I knew nothing of it; and I wondered what they were driving at." "You swore to the colour--blue?" "Yes, sir," replied poor Tom, hanging his head. "You would swear to it again?" Tom looked round helplessly. "You would swear to it again?" repeated Garden. "No, I wouldn't," said Tom savagely.