"Miss Rowan," he said, "if there is anything which I can do for your brother, I will do it, for the sake of the days when we lived together, and when we were so near the very heart of life and death. But I tell you frankly that I see very little chance of successful intervention on my part. It takes a good deal in this country to stay the arm of the law, and your brother has grievously offended against it." She struck the table before which he sat, with the palm of her hand. "If he did," she cried, "it was for your sake! I am sure of it! He went to do your bidding, and you must save him!" "May I ask," said Deane, "why you are so sure that he went to do my bidding?" "Yes! Ask, if you will, and I will answer you. I know it because this was the real point of all his message to you. This was what I had to say. This is really why I have come. The document--the document, mind,--he said no more, but he told me to make this very clear to you--the document is in a worn leather case, sewn inside the breast pocket of the coat Sinclair was wearing when he died." Deane drew a little breath. "Young lady," he said, "it seems to me that you have been unnecessarily prolix. Your brother sent you here to tell me this?" "Yes!" "He did not send you here," Deane continued, "to beg for help--to waste my time in purposeless recriminations?" "No!" she answered faintly. "He knew very well," Deane continued, "that no mortal man can help him. The trial is over and the case is lost. The only thing to work for now is a reprieve." "But that is not what I want," she interrupted. "He must be pardoned!" "That," answered Deane, "is impossible. Neither I nor anyone breathing can work miracles." She leaned towards him with accusing eyes. "But it was you," she declared,--"it was you for whom he undertook this enterprise!" Deane shrugged his shoulders. "My dear young lady," he said, "you are mistaken. I cannot explain to you yet the full significance of those various messages which you have brought me from your brother, but believe me, what he did, he did knowing well the risks he undertook, and without any thought or hope of aid from me if he should fail. I will be quite honest with you, if you like. I will tell you the exact truth. Your brother and Sinclair were once friends. Sinclair and I were always enemies. There was a little matter of business open between us, and I thought that your brother might very well arrange it. I had no idea of his quarrelling with Sinclair. I did not encourage him to do so in any way." "You sent him there," she persisted doggedly. "I send messengers to every part of the world," Deane answered, "but I do not incite them to enter into murderous quarrels with the people whom they go to see. I will do what I can for your brother, but it must be in my own way." "You will be able at least to save him from--from--"