The journalist smiled. "Impetuosity never pays, senor. You could have proved nothing if you had. A most respectable old gentleman, highly connected, through his wife, with some of the best families in the country, pays me a visit to inquire after my health, or perhaps to ask me to dinner at his hotel. You would not have made much out of it." The Chief cooled down immediately under this sensible speech. "You are a very wonderful man, Mr Moreno. You never allow yourself to be carried away by your feelings." He turned with his gracious foreign manner to Farquhar. "I understand, sir, you are an old and trusted friend. I have no doubt that you have the same faith in his judgment that I have." On the afternoon of that same day Moreno went to see Violet Hargrave. He found her restless and agitated. "You are sure that it will take place to-morrow night?" was her first question. "I am as near sure as can be. Unless a miracle happens he will be brought up for judgment before the brotherhood," was the answer. Violet shuddered; her face went pale. "I have never been at one of their so-called trials, but it must be very horrible." "Neither have I," said Moreno. "I see, like myself, you don't anticipate much pleasure from it." "But you are going to save him, and I am going to help you," she cried a little wildly. "You have not yet told me where I come in. The time is very short; you will have to speak soon. Why not speak now?" The young man hesitated for a few seconds. How far should he trust her? Caution whispered not too far. He spoke in a gloomy tone. "To tell you the truth, I am not so sure of saving him as I was. Certain things have happened which I had not taken into my calculations." He was watching her narrowly as he spoke, to note the effect upon her of his words. She clasped her hands together and her voice faltered. "I am so in the dark, you tell me nothing, you keep everything to yourself." She betrayed great agitation, but it was evident she believed his statements implicitly. As a matter of fact, nothing had occurred to upset Moreno's plans in the slightest degree. But there was something about which he had been a little careless. He had pretty well secured his own safety, but he had not secured hers. "I cannot enter into a lot of explanations, when circumstances alter from hour to hour," he said rather brusquely. "On the whole, I believe I have a better chance of saving him without your co-operation. Now, please don't ask me why I think so!" "I won't, if you don't wish it," she answered submissively. "I wish you could have been more frank with me, have given me some hint of what you intend to do. It will be very terrible for me to be there, waiting on the turn of events." "You no longer desire revenge on Guy Rossett?" he asked, looking at her intently. "Not that sort of revenge," she answered truthfully. "For I suppose murder is in their thoughts."