The eyes of a dozen curious outsiders were fixed upon her, and she submitted to be placed in the wagon, which Hal drove off at a sharp pace. The artist remained in the court-room, where he was presently joined by Maurice Galbraith, who in a formal voice asked him to accompany him to his apartment, in order that they might discuss the new and unexpected feature in the case. The two men walked together down the street, both too much excited to trust themselves to speak. As soon as they found themselves alone in Galbraith’s chamber at the inn, Graham cried excitedly,-- "Galbraith, no one can for a moment believe that infamous lie,--you can make the fellow eat his words to-morrow?" The lawyer folded his arms across his breast, and looked into his companion’s face with a searching gaze, before he answered slowly and ironically,-- "Am I to understand, Mr. Graham, that you deny all collusion in the attempt to carry off Miss Almsford?" "Great God! of course I do. Can you for a moment doubt me? _I to carry off Millicent_? Are you mad to ask me such a question? Why, don’t you know, man, how much I have cared for that girl?" "It is not difficult for the most indifferent observer to detect your admiration for Miss Almsford." "Well?" "Well, what does that prove? It is a point against you that you are supposed to be in love with the young lady, and gives color to Horton’s accusation." Graham sank into a seat, and the lawyer continued,-- "Your great intimacy at the Ranch and your marked attentions to Miss Almsford were apparently unaccountably discontinued by your removal to San Francisco. This feature is against you. You must have seen that in the eyes of Henry Deering, Horton’s statement needed strong disproving." "And you, Galbraith, can you for an instant suspect me of so base, so vile an action? Is it possible that a man can be so misjudged?" "All I have to say, Mr. Graham, is that it is my hope to prove you innocent of the crime in which Horton has implicated you. As the friend and counsel of Miss Almsford, I prefer to believe that she was menaced by a vulgar ruffian and not by a man who might have aspired to the honor and privilege of guarding her from every harm. If you will excuse me, I will see you in the course of the evening." With these words the lawyer left the apartment, his nervous face suffused by a deep flush. John Graham stared after him for a moment, and then passed down the corridor and out into the quiet night, to seek counsel from the stars in this strange hour of doubt. CHAPTER XVIII. "... the passions of her mind, As winds from all the compass shift and blow, Made war upon each other for an hour." "Millicent! Millicent! are you awake?" It was the evening of the first day of the trial; and Miss Almsford, sitting in her chamber warming her pretty feet before the fire, recognized the voice and answered,-- "Yes, Bab, come in."