"Did he not say something that agitated you very much?" "He may have frightened me," she faltered. "Yes, he probably did; but why? Did you not make a strong gesture of protest against what he said?" "Yes, sir," with a troubled stare at the judge. "Did you not go on with him very quietly and submissively, after a moment or two?" "Yes, sir," and her face now was downcast, and she began to tremble. "Did you not enter a covered alley-way, that led to tenements in the rear?" "Yes, sir," with increasing agitation. "Well, what did you do there?" "Has he told on me, your Honor?" she gasped, with a sudden flood of tears. "What he has done is no concern of yours. You are under oath to tell the whole truth. There was a single gas-jet burning in the covered passage-way, was there not?" "Yes, sir," sobbing violently. "Has Miss Mildred Jocelyn ever wronged you?" "N--no, sir, not that I know of." "Now tell me just what occurred under that gas-jet." "I'll tell your Honor the whole truth," the girl burst out, "if your Honor'll let me off this time. It's my first offence, and we're poor, and I was driven to it by need, and he promised me that Miss Jocelyn wouldn't suffer anything worse than a warning to find another place." Believing that her accomplice had betrayed her, she told the whole story without any concealment, fully exonerating Mildred. Although the judge maintained his stern, impassive aspect throughout the scene, he hugely enjoyed the floor-walker's dismay and confusion, and his tortured inability to warn the girl to deny everything. "Please, your Honor, forgive me this time," sobbed the trembling witness in conclusion, "and I'll never do wrong again." "I have no right or power to punish you," replied the judge; "it rests wholly with your employers whether they will prosecute you or not. Send that floor-walker here" (to an officer). "Well, sir, what have you to say to this testimony?" he asked, as the fellow shuffled forward, pale and irresolute. "Remember, you are still under oath." The wily villain, caught in his own trap, hesitated. He was tempted to deny that the plot against Mildred was at his instigation; but, like the girl, he saw that the judge had mysterious information on the subject, and he could not tell how far this knowledge went. If he entered on a series of denials he might be confronted by another witness. The young man who had been sent to identify the girl, and whose unexpected presence had brought such disaster, might have been concealed in the passage-way, and so have seen and heard all. With the fear of an indictment for perjury before his eyes the fellow began to whine. "I was only trying to protect the interests of my employers. I had suspected the Jocelyn girl--" At this there arose from the court-room a loud and general hiss, Which the judge repressed, as he sternly interposed, "We have nothing to do with your suspicions. Do you deny the testimony?" "No, sir; but--"