"Yes, how could you? And now he wishes you to sit, and, if you
don't, isn't he likely to suspect the reason?"
"There .... there's Baldromma."
"That wind-bag! Likely to make a cry against the administration of
justice, is he? Well, the surest way to squelch such people is to
walk over them."
"There's the girl herself."
"Of course, there's the girl herself. But if she is guilty and has
held her tongue thus far, she'll probably continue to do so."
The Governor made a turn across the room and then drew up sharply.
"There's myself, too. I suppose I deserve some consideration?"
"Indeed yes."
"Then go on with your duty--that's all I ask of you."
With a thrill of relief Stowell rose to go. But oh, misery of the
heart, he had kept his most searching objection to the last.
"There is somebody else, your Excellency."
"Who else?" asked the Governor, laying down the pipe he had taken up.
"I hate to mention her in this connection--Fenella."
"Fenella? Why, what on earth has Fenella...."
And then Stowell told him.
Having interested herself in this case, Fenella was hunting down the
guilty man that he might be exposed and punished--punished by public
obloquy if he could not be punished by law.
"If she finds him before the trial how can I possibly sit? Whatever
happens it will be coloured by her knowledge of the truth. If the
girl is acquitted she will think I have helped her to escape
punishment in order to salve my conscience or cover my share in her
crime. And if she is condemned what happiness can there be for
either of us after that?"
He had spoken with emotion, but the Governor, who had recovered from
his surprise, replied impatiently,
"Aren't you crossing the bridge before you come to the river?"
Stowell made no answer, and at the next moment there was the sound of
carriage wheels coming up the drive.
"It's Fenella," said the Governor, looking out of the window. "I'll
ask you to say nothing to her about the subject of our conversation.
And listen" (he was re-lighting his pipe and puffing at it with lips
that smacked angrily; Stowell's hand was on the door), "don't let my
girl make a damned fool of you."