"Yes--I hear," groaned Fred. "I stood there on the mat outside her door thinking that, and that it would be for Claire's sake; and as I thought that, I saw her sweet, pure face before me, as it were, her eyes looking into mine; and I said: `How can I ever look into those eyes openly again?' I felt that I was still a gentleman, but that in a few minutes I should be a despicable thief. Then I raised my hand to open the door, always unfastened so that Claire might go in and out, but it dropped to my side, and I sank upon my knees and prayed for strength to resist temptation, and the strength I asked was given." The old man paused, for there was a step outside in the stone passage, and it seemed that the gaoler was coming there; but he passed on, and Denville gripped his son's arm more tightly. "I don't know how long I knelt there, but I was rising with the temptation crushed, and as I rose I was going back to my room." "Hah!" ejaculated Fred excitedly, and he breathed more freely. "Back to my room, boy, when I seemed to be roused from the stupor brought on by my agony of mind, for there was a sound in the countess's chamber. I listened, and there it was again. It was a confused sound, as if she were moving in her bed, and I thought she must be ill, and want Claire. I was about to go and rouse her, when there were other sounds; there was a loud crash, and I stood as if turned to ice." "You heard sounds!" gasped Fred; and he looked horror-stricken and shrinking as his father seemed to grow in strength. "Yes," whispered the old man fiercely, as he seemed to fix Fred Denville with his eye; "I heard sounds that froze me with horror, as I felt that my temptation had been in the shape of a warning of evil, and that another was at work in the poor old woman's room. For a few minutes I could not stir. Then, mastering my horror and fear, and calling myself coward, I hurried into the room, to find myself face to face with him who had entered before. I saw all at a glance, as a hoarse groan came from the bed--the curtain torn aside, and the murderer by the dressing-table, with the jewel-casket in his hand." "You saw all this?" cried Fred, white as ashes now. "Father, you saw this?"