“Him or me! If you believe he did not write that letter, you must believe I did.” “I will not decide.” “I say I did not write it. There is no room for a mistake here. Do you believe me, Hungerford?” “I do, Dick.” “Then is Dr. Bilks condemned?” “Not at all. A third person may have written it.” “That is not possible.” “Dick, you say the envelope was the one in which you sent your letter to Buckstone?” “There is no doubt of it.” “Where could Dr. Bilks have obtained it?” “From the dead body of Buckstone.” “That is absurd.” “Dr. Bilks is the man who severed the head from the body, and sunk it in the channel,” said Dick, fiercely. “Why should he have done this?” “I don’t know. There is a mystery which I cannot fathom yet; but I will fathom it. I will probe this matter till the daylight shines through it in every direction.” “I cannot believe that Dr. Bilks had anything to do with the murder, or with the body.” “Dr. Bilks saved Julia’s life--God bless him for that! I ought not to ask you to decide between him and me,” added Dick, sadly. “I hoped there would be peace now; that both of you would be content to wait till time should solve the mystery. Dr. Bilks expresses himself in the kindest terms towards you, Dick. He assured me, a week ago, that you would be discharged; and certainly no man could have been more gratified with the result to-day than he was.” “He is a hypocrite. If he was gratified, it was only because the mark of Cain is upon me, and he asks nothing more for me.” “You wrong him, Dick.” “On my soul, I do not! He is a miserable, sneaking villain!” “Come, Dick! This does not sound like you.” “I speak only the truth; but forgive me, Hungerford; he is your friend.” “He is,” replied Eugene, firmly. Dick was silent. He felt that he was condemned. But he was considerate towards his friend. He realized that Eugene’s eyes were blinded by the services which Dr. Bilks had rendered his sister. He could not blame him--he did not. “Hungerford, I submit with what resignation I can command to my fate. I shall leave Poppleton to-morrow.” “Leave, Dick!” “Yes, for a time--perhaps forever. I shall attend Ross Kingman’s trial, at Summerville.” “Why should you leave?” “Why should I stay? There is nothing more for me to do in Poppleton.” “Attend to my affairs as usual.” “Can you trust a liar, a perjurer?” “You are unjust and unkind, Dick. You know I have no such opinion of you.” “You cannot well avoid having such an opinion. I shall go, Hungerford; I shall return only when Dr. Bilks is sent to the state prison, or driven from the town. Whatever his purpose, he has accomplished it.” Dick looked sharply into Eugene’s face. “What purpose can he have?” demanded Eugene. “Hungerford, what I am going to say will almost choke me, but I must say it;” and Dick actually trembled with emotion. “What, Dick?” asked Eugene, as he drew up his horse before the Bell River House.