Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-39.djvu/85

Rh gave it up. And afterwards something happened,"—here, for the first and last time, her voice faltered somewhat,—"something that almost made me decide to give it all up—give up all I had come so far to do and had promised to do—and to leave Cedarcliffe as suddenly as I came to it. But then, when I remembered the wrong he had done, I said to myself that I would stay, and not break my promise. So, when the ambush was planned, I knew that it would give me what I wanted: I could meet him; and then I could ride back to the lake, and no one would know that we had met."

"Allow me a moment, madam," interposed the judge again. "The inference from your words is—the ostensible inference—especially when viewed in connection with the event which afterwards took place—that you were acting with the deliberate design of waylaying Mr. Henry Mainwaring, and, being armed, of either compelling him to do something or agree to something (we do not know what), or, in case of his refusal, or for whatever reason might seem to you sufficient, taking his life. I say, this is an allowable inference from your words. Is it what you intended to convey?"

"It was in my thoughts that I might take his life," Sinfire answered; "but other things were also possible: I could not know what I should finally do until I had spoken to him and heard him speak. I think, now, that I should probably not have killed him; but then he is dead, and one feels more gently towards the dead."

"Very well, madam," replied the judge, scribbling some words on a paper, and then scratching his chin with his pen-holder. "You may proceed."

"I have told nearly all," she said. "I searched for Henry Mainwaring, but I did not find him. I once caught sight of some one I thought was he, but it was his brother John. They must have altered their original intention, and watched in different places from those they had at first determined on. The body was found in a spot I had not looked in. At last, as the dawn began to break, I went back to the barn, and saddled my horse, and rode towards the lake. At that time the murder must have been done, and John Mainwaring and the groom, after carrying the body to the house, had returned to the camp; and presently the wagon came up, and I joined the others, and they told me what had happened; but no one asked me how I chanced to be mounted and abroad so early. That is all."

"Pardon me: I have one more question to ask," said the lawyer, who held the derringer in his hands. "I think you said this pistol was in the same condition as on that morning. Are you aware that it has been discharged, and that the shell of the cartridge still remains in it?"