And never for one instant did he dream that his creature sat closeted with Plank, tremulous, sallow, nearing the edge of cringing avowal--only held back from utter collapse by the agonising necessity of completing a bargain that might save himself from the degradation of the punishment that had seemed inevitable.

All day long he sat with Plank.

Nobody except those two knew he was there.

And after a very long time Plank consented that nobody else except Siward and Harrington and Quarrier should ever know.
So he called up Harrington on the telephone, saying that there was, in the office, somebody who desired to speak to him.

And when Harrington caught the judge's first faint, stammered word he reeled where he stood, ashen, unbelieving, speechless.