She came so near I could have touched her with my hand, and not until she was that close did she take her eyes from Kedsty and look at me.

And when she'd passed I thought what a couple of cursed idiots we were, standing there paralyzed, as if we'd never seen a beautiful girl before in our lives.
I went to remark that much to the Old Man when--" O'Connor bit his cigar half in two as he leaned nearer to the cot.
"Kent, I swear that Kedsty was as white as chalk when I looked at him! There wasn't a drop of blood left in his face, and he was staring straight ahead, as though the girl still stood there, and he gave another of those grunts--it wasn't a laugh--as if something was choking him.

And then he said: "'Sergeant, I've forgotten something important.

I must go back to see Dr.Cardigan.You have my authority to give McTrigger his liberty at once!'" O'Connor paused, as if expecting some expression of disbelief from Kent.

When none came, he demanded, "Was that according to the Criminal Code?
Was it, Kent ?" "Not exactly.