Part 5 (2/2)

”Then, as you supposed, the military man was mistaken. I had nothing in my hands, and never even reached him.”

Ingleby, in spite of his protestations, drew a deep breath of relief, but Leger, who appeared to be recovering now, smiled.

”Well,” he said, ”you're satisfied, but it doesn't in the least affect the position. You see, the military gentleman appeared certain he saw me strike the blow, and I scarcely think my word would go very far against his with the usual kind of jury.”

”You know who did it?”

Leger smiled curiously. ”I do, but you ought to understand that the fact isn't of much use to me.”

”You mean?”

”I could plead not guilty, but I couldn't point out the man responsible.

You see, I induced him to join the Society, and gave him the American's pamphlets--I believe the more virulent ones. They seemed to make a strong impression on him. One can't well back out of his responsibility--especially when the adversary is always ready to make the most of the opportunity. Besides, the man has a family.”

Ingleby clenched one hand. ”And you have Hetty.”

”Yes,” said Leger with an impressive quietness. ”And Hetty has only me.

Still, one must do what he feels he has to.”

”But you can't leave Hetty--and what would happen to her if you were----”

”If I were in jail?” and Leger's face went awry. ”She would be turned out of her berth to a certainty. It didn't quite strike me until you put the thing before me. There's the lad's mother too. A little horrible, isn't it? How long does one usually get for manslaughter?”

Again there was silence save for Ingleby's groan. Democratic aspirations were very well as subjects for discussion, but now that he was brought face to face with the results of attempting to realize them, they appalled him. He did not remember that usually very little worth the having can be obtained without somebody's getting hurt; and it would have afforded him no great consolation if he had remembered, since, for the time being, he had had quite enough of theories. Then he made a little abrupt gesture.

”Tom,” he said, ”what dolts we are! The thing is perfectly simple. You have only to come out with me, and the fact that you've made a bolt of it will be quite enough to divert suspicion from the other man.”

”There is a difficulty. Steamboat fares cost money, and I'm not sure Hetty and I have five pounds in the treasury.”

Ingleby laughed almost light-heartedly. ”I think I have enough to take us all out at the cheapest rates, and you must let me lend it to you, if only to prove that what you believe in isn't an impracticable fancy.”

Leger slowly straightened himself. ”I don't want to be ungracious--but it's a difficult thing to do. The money's yours--and you'd have nothing left.”

Ingleby laid a hand on his shoulder, and gripped it hard. ”Are you willing to see your sister cast adrift to save your confounded pride?

The fact that she has a relative undergoing penal servitude isn't much of a recommendation to a girl who has to earn her bread. Besides, like a good many of us, you're not logical. You thought you had a claim on Esmond's property.”

There was a light step on the stairway, and he stopped suddenly.

”There's Hetty,” he said. ”We'll leave it to her.”

The door swung open, and the girl came in gasping, with horror in her eyes.

”Oh,” she said, ”its awful! They've come in with the wagonettes, and Harry told me. How did it happen?”

”Sit down,” said Ingleby gently. ”Tom will explain.”

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