"Mr. Banks will be down in a moment;" the trim maid had said, and left
the library door open as she withdrew.
The young prosecutor walked about the room uneasily. He had hoped at
the last moment that the object of his call would be from home--that he
would take fright and refuse to be seen--that action had been taken by
the police which would put it out of his power to give the warning that
he now felt he was here to give. But, no. "Mr. Banks will be down in
a moment." He had heard quite distinctly, and there had not been the
slightest accent of fear or annoyance in the voice that spoke.
In his agitation he had taken up a curiously wrought paper knife which
lay upon the table and had dropped it as if it had burned his fingers.
"Good God!" he exclaimed. "_He_ was the college thief. It is no new
thing, then."
He took up the knife again and examined it closely. There could be no
mistake. It was a gold wrought, elaborately engraved blade, set in a
handle which had no duplicate, for the students, who had planned the
gift which had so mysteriously disappeared had devised and caused to be
engraved a secret symbol which was cut deep in the polished surface.
It was to have been a surprise for one of the favorites in the faculty.
It had disappeared--and here it was!
"Good morning, Mathews. This is really very kind. I--"
It was the voice of Walter Banks, but their eyes met over the fallen
paper knife, which had dropped from trembling fingers at the first word.
A great wave of color rushed into the face of young Banks. The
prosecutor stood mute and pale. Involuntarily he had tried to cover the
knife with a corner of the rug as he turned to meet his host. It vaguely
dawned upon him that he was a guest in a house where he was playing the
part of a detective. His hand was extended in the hearty western fashion
which had become second nature to him, but Walter Banks did not take it.
"Will you sit down?" said the host in a tone which was hoarse, and quite
unlike the frank, free voice that spoke a moment before.
As he seated himself he bent forward and took up the bit of tell-tale
gold and ivory. Then he said, slowly in a tone that was scarcely
audible:
"Yes, I took it. You are right. It _is_ the college knife."
"Don't! don't!" exclaimed Fred Mathews, rising. "I am-- You forget-- I
am-- My office. Think. I am for the prosecution!" His face was livid.
Young Banks leaned heavily against the table. The color began to die
out of his lips. His hand trembled as he laid the knife upon the table.
Neither spoke. The brain of the young prosecutor found only scraps
and shreds of thought, in which such words as duty, honor, pity,
hospitality, wealth, social order, floated vaguely here and there,
buffeted by the one insistent idea that he should go--go quickly--and
leave this man alone with his shame and humiliation.
Walter Banks was the first to speak.
"Come up to my room. Mother might come in here and--I suppose--you have
come about-- I--Is--? You say you are for the prosecution. Have they
traced the cloak to me?"
The lawyer stepped back again and looked at the man before him. What
could he mean by saying such a thing as that--_to him?_ They had never
been close friends, but now in spite of everything the thought that
he was the prosecutor kept itself steadily in the attorney's mind and
struggled with a pity and reluctance that were seeking to justify him by
a belief in the insanity of young Banks.
No one but a lunatic would have made that last remark. The thought was a
relief. He grasped at it eagerly and began to fashion his mental outlook
to fit the idea. Then suddenly came to him with overwhelming force all
he had ever heard or read of the failure of justice where criminals of
high degree were concerned.
He had followed his host to the stairs. Suddenly he turned, caught
up his hat from the stand where he had left it, and passed out of the
street door without a word. Once in the street he glanced involuntarily
up at the house. At the window of the room he had just left stood Walter
Banks. His arm was about his mother's shoulders, and both were very
pale. There was a strange likeness between them.