The Governor glanced up quickly, charged his pipe and then settled himself to listen. "You will remember the story I told you--about the man who had promised to marry a girl and then fallen in love with somebody else?" "Perfectly." Stowell paused a moment. His lips became pale and his hands contracted. "Well?" "That was my own story, Sir." There was another moment of silence. Stowell had expected an exclamation of surprise, a clang of astonishment, but the Governor's face was still to the fire and the only sound he made was the swivelling of the pipe between his teeth. "You advised me to break off the engagement and I did so." "What was the result?" "The girl was relieved." "Relieved?" "Yes, because she, too, had in the meantime fallen in love with somebody else--my friend Gell." "How fortunate!" "It seemed so at first. I thought Providence had stepped in to help her out. But Fate has kept a terrible reckoning, Sir." "What has happened?" "The girl has committed a crime. She is in Castle Rushen awaiting her trial for the murder of her new-born child." "The woman Collister?" "Yes. And now I'm a Judge and in ordinary course it is my duty to try her." There was another period of silence, broken only by the rapid puffing of the Governor's pipe. "But that's not all, Sir. Being in this frightful position everything is tempting me to corrupt Justice. First, my natural desire to influence the trial in favour of the girl--perhaps to get her off altogether. Next, pity for her poor mother who has been pleading for mercy. Then, friendship for Gell who has been begging me to try the case because the old Statute is severe and my colleague cruel. And last of all the step-father of the girl who has been trying to intimidate me." "Well?" "I think you will see it is impossible for me to sit on a case in which my private interest and my public duty conflict--utterly impossible. It would be against all usage, all justice." The Governor removed his pipe. His face had become cold and hard. "You speak of your colleague--have you done anything with him?" "Yes. I've asked him to sit instead of me." "What if he cannot?" "Then I will ask you, Sir, to send for another Judge from across the water." Stowell had struggled through to the end, although perspiration had been breaking out on his forehead. When he had finished the Governor sat for some time without speaking. Obscure motives were operating within him. In the depths of his mind (scarcely known to himself) he was asking himself, "How will all this, if I allow it to go farther, affect Fenella? Will it stop her marriage, disturb her happiness, destroy her life?" But on the surface of his mind he was only aware of considerations of public welfare. He was irritated by what had occurred. It was an impediment in his path which he wished to kick out of the way.