Dick Birch had no suspicion of what had been written on the paper passed to Mr. Lowe during the examination. Dr. Bilks had reclaimed the paper, and suggested to the attorney that his position might be compromised by this honest endeavor on his part to have the whole naked truth presented to the court. Mr. Lowe saw the point, and promised to be silent. “Never mind that, doctor,” said Birch. “What would you, as a friend, advise me to do?” “Tell the truth, by all means.” “Acknowledge that I was on the island, whether I was or was not.” “I think there can be no doubt that you were there.” “I still deny the fact; but grant that I was there, as you say you believe.” “I trust you do not believe me capable of any insincerity. I do believe you were there.” “Never mind that--pass the minor points. You advise me to acknowledge that I was with Buckstone.” “Certainly.” “What then?” “You are a lawyer; you know best. My impression was, and still is, that you were on The Great Bell that night for a good purpose. As you did not give information to the authorities of the murder, as you did not seem to know that a murder had been committed,--for I carried the first intelligence to Pine Hill,--I concluded that, when Buckstone went up to see Ross, you pulled over the channel, and went home.” “And left Buckstone to be murdered by Mary’s savage brother, or at least to remain on the island all night?” said Dick, with a sneer. “I confess it did not look reasonable that you would do so.” “No man would do so.” “You know best.” “In your opinion, I went home, leaving my companion to take care of himself, and not even asking a question about him until eleven o’clock the next day!” “Of course I know nothing of particulars. I know only what is proved.” “It would be more reasonable to suppose that I remained; that I saw the murder; that I saw Buckstone hurled over the cliff into the sea; that I knew it all, and then held my tongue.” “Ross was your friend--perhaps for his sake you did so; you know best. If you did, it was a mistaken policy. I advise you, if this was the case, to tell the whole truth.” “It might be made to appear that I was an accessory, either before or after the fact.” “If you would tell me the whole truth, I could advise you better what to do. If your complicity in the affair endangers you, I should recommend you as a friend, though not as a stern lover of justice, to leave Poppleton--leave the country.” “I do not ask for any advice. I only desired to obtain your views.” “I am afraid, Mr. Birch, that you are more deeply implicated than any one yet suspects--you know best. If I can do anything to serve you, I will do it with pleasure.” “I thank you for your exalted opinion of my character!” “I regard you as a first-rate fellow, and the worst I fear is, that your zeal to serve your friend Hungerford has led you into a blunder, if nothing worse.” “Thank you, doctor. Let me say once more that I was _not_ the stranger.”