The magistrate consulted with another official, and Trent was recalled. The counsel for the prosecution questioned him and Gowrie and the Narbys minutely, but after all, in the end, there was no doubt in the minds of anyone that the laudanum had been so administered, and that Herries, under the soporific influence, could not have left his bed to commit the crime. After some delay, the magistrate therefore did what he was forced to do--he acquitted Herries, who left the court a free man, much to the joy of Elspeth. When the late prisoner appeared outside the court, the news of his acquittal and the reason of it had already preceded him, and he was welcomed by the large crowd with great joy. With his wife Herries hurried to a cab, intending to drive to Browne's house, and many a hand was stretched out to greet him. Undoubtedly everyone was pleased that the young man had been proved guiltless, and Elspeth, with the tears streaming down her face, could do nothing but gaze into the eyes of her husband, who was thus at large again. Followed by shouting crowds, the cab drove to Dr. Browne's abode, but Gowrie remained behind as the hero of the hour, and submitted, not unwillingly, to the questioning of many reporters, who were anxious to hear more. He related what he had said in the court, and protested again and again that his only reason for giving the laudanum was to make his son-in-law sleep. As there was no reason, on the face of it, why he should not be believed, everyone thought that the old man spoke the truth, and for once Gowrie enjoyed the sensation of being the lion of the hour. But Herries, much as he was indebted to his father-in-law, was not quite satisfied. When Gowrie returned to Browne's house, the young man drew him aside and questioned him closely. "You robbed me of money," said Herries abruptly. "Only a few shullings, laddie," chuckled Gowrie, "ye wudna hae me tak awa ma ain character." "And you gave me the drug so that you might rob me in safety?" "Aye," Gowrie rubbed his hands, "joost sae. An' a lucky nicht it wis for ye that I did pit the drug intae yon gless." "You are a scoundrel, Gowrie." "Eh! This tae yer paw-in-law, an' tae the mon wha saved yer life!" "You wouldn't have saved my life if I had not married Elspeth," was Herries' dry retort. "Weel, maybe I wudnae hae pit maesel tae sic trouble. Hoots, mon, a few shullin' against yer ain neck. It's gey cheap." The old fellow was so shameless that Herries could say nothing. He stopped rebuking a man who could not feel the force of a rebuke, and went on another tack. "When you came up to rob me, did you see or hear anything?" "Aye, but I winna tell ye what I saw." "You want to make more money out of it, I expect. Well, if you don't tell me, I'll inform the police, and you----" "Nae, nae, laddie. Dinna dae that. I'll tell ye. I saw a wumon in the paussage. Aye, I dinna ken wha she wis, but I saw a petticoat." "You SAW her?"