“I have no doubt of it,” added Dr. Bilks, who had all this time been watching the effect upon Julia. “Mr. Birch is one of the truest and noblest men it was ever my good fortune to meet.” “But the evidence goes to show that he was with Buckstone; that he was the person whom Ross Kingman saw with him,” continued the sheriff. “I shall be obliged to follow up Mr. Birch till he can give me a satisfactory account of himself at the time of the murder.” “Ross left me at nine o’clock last evening,” continued Eugene, recalling the circumstances. “Did you see Mr. Birch after that time?” asked the sheriff. “I did.” “Dick was with mother and me till we heard Ross leave the house,” said Julia. “Then he went into the library, where you were; and we were so tired that we went to bed immediately.” “Mr. Birch joined me in the library just after Ross left me. I told him what had passed between us, and that I feared, if Ross saw Buckstone, he would do some rash deed; but he seemed to have no fears.” “Did he say anything about Mr. Buckstone’s being in town?” asked the sheriff. “Not a word.” “Did you have any conversation with him about Buckstone, after your return yesterday?” “I did; he proposed to send for Buckstone, and remove all doubts in regard to Mary’s marriage, by having it performed over again.” “Precisely so; then he had business with Buckstone,” said the sheriff. “What time did you leave Mr. Birch?” “He went into the office about half past nine; and being exhausted by my journey, and the want of sleep on my voyage, I retired.” “You left him in the office?” “I did.” “Did any of your servants see him after this time?” “I don’t know.” “I should like to question them before I see Mr. Birch again,” added the officer, who seemed to be satisfied that he was making out a case. “I will give you all the assistance in my power, but I am perfectly satisfied that Mr. Birch will conceal nothing,” replied Eugene, confidently. “I do not know that he has any reason to conceal anything.” “It is possible that he intended to settle up this unpleasant affair of Buckstone’s marriage--in which, for Mary’s sake, I have taken some interest--without troubling me.” “But he said distinctly that he was not with Buckstone,” interposed Dr. Bilks; “and when Mr. Birch says a thing, he means it. In my opinion, he was not with him. I will take his word for it against all the circumstances that can combine against him.” This was confiding, generous, and even magnanimous on the part of Dr. Bilks, and Julia bestowed a smile of grateful acknowledgment upon him. “I agree with you entirely, doctor; but it will be doing Dick a favor to inquire into the matter.”