A look of wild terror came into Mary's eyes. "But, father, don't you see?" she cried. "Paul had no secrets from his mother. He told her everything--everything. When he came home that night, after his quarrel with Wilson, he would tell the whole story to her. Afterwards---- Can't you see, father? Can't you see?" "We've gone over this ground a hundred times," said the judge. "But it won't do, Mary. In any case, it would be impossible to make an accusation against her. No one saw her that night, and, as far as I can see, nothing can be traced to her in any way. And even if it could---- Don't you understand, Mary?" "And will you allow Paul to be hanged?" The judge was silent. They were sitting alone in Paul's study some days after the judge had made his confession. He had been true to his promise, and had devoted every possible moment to the elucidation of the mystery which faced him. He had brought all his knowledge of the law to bear upon it; he had utilised all his experience in the discovery of criminals; he had exerted himself to the utmost; but there was not a ray of light anywhere. "Do you know anything? Have you heard anything more?" he asked. "As you know," replied Mary, "she has not been fully conscious ever since that day. But I have found out something. This afternoon she has been much better, and now and then there seemed to be some return of reason." "Well?" "Well, her mind is full of this trial, full of the horror of Paul's situation--you can tell that from her wanderings--and this afternoon I heard her say these words: 'They make a great deal about the knife. They say no one could have got into the office; but I was in the office, and I saw the knife. Paul and I spoke about it.'" "Yes," said the judge eagerly. "Was there anything else?" "No, nothing more, nothing more; but surely it is enough?" The judge was silent for a few seconds. "If she had been able to attend as a witness this would have come out," he said. "I find that she was subpoenaed, but her illness makes it impossible for her to be there." And he gave a sigh, half of relief, half of sorrow. "And can you do nothing, nothing?" asked Mary. "Nothing yet," said the judge. "But you cannot believe they will find him guilty?" "Paul will be allowed to make a speech in his own defence. He may work wonders that way. He has done very little cross-examining to-day, but that may be part of his method. I think he's going to rely on his analysis of evidence. It's not an unsound process. Cross-examinations ofttimes mean very little. Justice Hawkins, you may remember, when he was practising at the Bar, used to depend almost entirely on his closing speech, and he won more cases than perhaps any other man. Still, we must not depend upon that. Nothing shall be left undone, Mary." "Father, I'm going to see Paul."