She looked at him straight. Her eyes were not faded now; he was amazed at the flash and flush of energy and youth he had brought to her face. He thought he had never in his life seen so honest, so spiritual a face as that which confronted him; but whether her present expression was one of astonishment or dismay he could not tell. "You could not have expected him to speak on this subject; and you never had any connection with our trouble? What more did he say?" "He never really mentioned your name; I only assumed that his reference was to you. He said that he knew a lady who would die to save a--well, he _said_, a gentleman she loved, but would let even _him_ die rather than swear falsely." She never flinched. "Was that all?" she asked. But Durgan was already cut with remorse to think how impertinent his words must sound. "No, that was not all. He asked me to give you a message, to tell you that he would not harm you--that he would rather die than harm you. This was in answer to my suggestion that you would not wish your real name to be known in these parts." She looked relieved. "I have always believed that he had more good in him than you thought. But tell me all. I'd liefer hear every word, if you please." "I hope I remember all that he said. I think that was all that I took to be a direct reference to you, Miss Claxton; but what I thought most needful to tell Alden----" "Yes?" The little word pulsed with restrained excitement. "I asked the fellow on what defence he relied, and he said what made me think he had the pull of some threat over the person he relied on. He had had a telegram." "I don't exactly understand, Mr. Durgan." "Neither do I, I assure you." "But I mean, what has that to do with Mr. Alden?" "Oh, I think I assumed that 'Dolphus believed this person to be the criminal, and his address was on the telegram." "May I ask why you made this assumption?" "It may have been unwarranted, but taken in connection with his boast that he could establish your entire freedom from blame----" Durgan was floundering in his effort to find words for the very painful subject. He paused, with face red and dew on his brow. "I guess, Mr. Durgan, if you'll speak quite plainly what you mean, it will be better for us both." "Why do you include me? Do you know why this boy threatens me, reproaches me, challenges me?" "Tell me first, Mr. Durgan, what you made out, and what you think this telegram has to do with it?" "To be plain, I suspect that this man knows who was guilty of the crime for which you were tried, that he is now in communication with him, and I saw an address in the telegram he had received." "What was the address?" "'Corner of Beard and 84th Street,' and it was signed 'B. D.'" He told her its contents. She went into the house and brought out a New York directory a year or two old. "I guess there isn't any such corner," she said, and in a moment she showed him there was not.