It is unnecessary to quote further. By far the greater number of these witnesses, on being cross-examined by Mr. Kirby, who defended with an ability that has rarely, if ever, been excelled, were made to confess that they had wanted the spells for a far more subtle and dangerous purpose than they had previously stated; admissions which, of course, were highly prejudicial to the case for the prosecution. Shiel lost hope. He had looked forward to the trial with an excitement that almost bordered on frenzy. It was never out of his mind. He thought of it at meals, he thought of it at his work, he thought of it out of doors, and, when he went to bed, he dreamed of it. "I'll save you! I'll save you yet!" he wrote to Gladys. "The trial can only result in one thing--the breaking up and imprisonment of the trio." But when he read the papers each day, and saw how, in almost every instance, evidence which ought to have been damning to the accused, had been twisted into their favour, his heart sank. There was only one chance now--Lilian Rosenberg. She, of all the staff employed in the Hall in Cockspur Street, was best acquainted with the _modus operandi_ of Messrs. Hamar, Curtis and Kelson. "We must get hold of that girl at all costs," H.V. Sevenning remarked to Shiel. "You say you feel sure she likes you. Work upon her feelings to show the Firm up." "I don't much like the idea of it," Shiel said, "but I suppose the end justifies the means." "Of course it does!" Sevenning retorted. "It's your only chance of saving Miss Martin." Acting on this suggestion, Shiel approached Lilian Rosenberg on the subject. "What about the spells?" he asked her. "Have you found out yet how Hamar works them?" "I have only heard him muttering in his room again," she said, her cheeks paling. "And--you will only laugh at me--I have seen queer shadows hovering in his doorway and stealing down the passages, shadows that have terrified me. I never knew what real fear was before I came to Cockspur Street, and for the past few weeks I have been almost too afraid to open my room door, for fear I should see something standing outside." "You have no doubt, I suppose, in your own mind, that the trio practise sorcery?" "I certainly think they are helped in all they do by evil spirits." "Do you approve of such proceedings?" "I don't think them right. I don't think we have any right to pry into the Unknown. Some day, undoubtedly, it will be given us to know, but until that day comes, we had far better leave it alone." "If you think like that," Shiel said, "how can you reconcile yourself to working for these people?" "How can I help myself?" Lilian Rosenberg answered. "Beggars can't be choosers. I am not responsible for what they do." "But supposing you knew they were about to commit a very heinous crime, wouldn't you feel it your duty to try and circumvent them?"