'Sir,' said Alice--her voice was gentle, but it was strong: her face was sweet, but it was firm. The man saw and listened--and misunderstood. I know the mind of my husband in this matter. For reasons which you understand, he will not speak to you. The money that was devised by his father to the survivor of the two--his cousin or himself--has always been accepted by him as a proof that at the end his father desired him to understand that he was not wholly unforgiven: that there was a loophole of forgiveness, but he did not explain what that was: that should my husband, who has no desire to see the death of his cousin, survive Mr. Matthew, he will receive the fortune as a proof that a life of hard and honest work has been accepted by his father in full forgiveness. Sir, my husband considers his father's wishes as sacred. Nothing--no pressure of poverty--no danger such as the present will ever make him consent to sign the document you have so often submitted to him.' 'Then'--Mr. Probus put back his paper--'if this is your last word--remember--you have but a few days left. Nothing can save you--nothing--nothing--nothing. You have but a few days before you are condemned--a week or two more of life. Is this your last word?' 'It is our last word, Sir,' said Alice. 'She is right--Will is right,' cried Tom. 'Hark ye--Mr. Attorney. There is foul play here. We may find it out yet, with the help of God. Shall I put him out of the door, Alice?' 'He will go of his own accord, Tom. Will you leave us, Sir?' 'Yes, I will leave you.' He shook his long forefinger in my face. 'Ha! I leave you to be hanged: you shall have your miserable neck twisted like a chicken, and your last thought shall be that you threw your life away--no--that by dying you give your cousin all.' So he flung out of the room and left us looking blankly at each other. Then Jenny spoke. 'You did well, Will, to preserve silence in the presence of the wretch. We all do well to preserve silence about your defence. You dear people. I have counted up the cost. It will be more than at first I thought, because the case must be made complete, so complete that there can be no doubt I promise you.' She took off her domino: her face was very pale: I remember now that there was on it an unaccustomed look of nobility such as belongs to one who takes a resolution certain to involve her in great trouble and at the expense of self-sacrifice or martyrdom. 'I promise you,' she said, 'that, cost what it may, the CASE SHALL BE COMPLETE.' CHAPTER XI THE IMPENDING TRIAL