Part 8 (2/2)
”You are not?” ejaculated Master Baine in ae with you, as you shall judge I have proof to show you, as I say; and I aht render it impossible I do not desire it to be made public just yet, Master Baine; but I wish you to draw up some such document as would satisfy the courts at any future time should this matter be taken further, as well it may”
It was a shrewd plea The proof that was not upon himself was upon Lionel; but time would efface it, and if anon publication were made of what he was now about to show, it would then be too late to look elsewhere
”I assure you, Sir Oliver, that had you killed hi done ant offender”
”I know sir But it was not so One of the pieces of evidence against me--indeed the chief item--is that from Godolphin's body to rew tensely interested The parson watched hiically, I think, inevitably indeed, that the murderer must have been wounded in the encounter The blood could not possibly have been the victim's, therefore it must have been the slayer's
That the slayer ounded indeed we know, since there was blood upon Godolphin's sword Now, Master Baine, and you, Sir Andrew, shall be witnesses that there is upon my body not so much as a scratch of recent date I will strip me here as naked as when first I had the mischance to stray into this world, and you shall satisfy yourselves of that
Thereafter I shall beg you, Master Baine, to indite the document I have mentioned” And he reive these louts who accuse o in fear of the, sirs, that you will keep this matter entirely private until such time as its publication may be rendered necessary by events”
They saw the reasonableness of his proposal, and they consented, still entirely sceptical But when they had made their examination they were utterly dumbfounded to find all their notions entirely overset Master Baine, of course, drew up the required docuned and sealed it, whilst Sir Andrew added his own signature and seal as witness thereunto
With this parchainst any future need, Sir Oliver rode home, uplifted For once it were safe to do so, that parchrew and Rosaht yet be well
CHAPTER VI JASPER LEIGH
If that Christ less at Penarrow
Sir Oliver washours staring into the heart of the fire and repeating to hiain every word of his intervieith Rosaainst her for having so readily believed his guilt, now in a gentler sorrowing huth of the appearances against him
His half-brother moved softly about the house now in a sort of self-efface to intrude upon Sir Oliver's abstractions
He ell acquainted with their cause He knehat had happened at Godolphin Court, knew that Rosamund had dismissed Sir Oliver for all time, and his heart smote him to think that he should leave his brother to bear this burden that rightly belonged to his own shoulders
The thing preyed sohe gave it tongue
”Noll,” he said, standing beside his brother's chair in the firelit gloo a hand upon his brother's shoulder, ”were it not best to tell the truth?”
Sir Oliver looked up quickly, frowning ”Artthee, Lal”
”Itworse than hanging Oh, I have watched you every hour this past week, and I know the pain that abides in you It is not just” And he insisted--”We had best tell the truth”
Sir Oliver smiled wistfully He put out a hand and took his brother's
”'Tis noble in you to propose it, Lal”
”Not half so noble as it is in you to bear all the suffering for a deed that was lance fell away from Lionel's face and returned to the consideration of the fire ”After all, I can throw off the burden when I will Such knowledge as that will enhearten a h any trial”
He had spoken in a harsh, cynical tone, and Lionel had turned cold at his words He stood a long while in silence there, turning the the riddle which they presented hi his brother bluntly for the key to it, for the precise e failed him He feared lest Sir Oliver should confirm his own dread interpretation of it