"Well, you don't need to find Montgomery, and you don't need to hound Gilmore; I can tell you more than they can--" His bloodshot eyes, fixed and staring, seemed starting from their sockets.
"The facts you want to know are hidden here!" He struck his hand savagely against his breast and lurched half-way across the room, then he swung about and once more faced the judge.

"Why haven't you had the wisdom to keep out of this,--or have you expected to find some one it would be easier to pronounce sentence on than North?
Did you think it would be Gilmore ?" He scowled down on his father.

It was appalling and unnatural, after all his frightful suffering, his fear, and his remorse which never left him, that his safety should be jeopardized by his own father! He had only asked that the law be left to deal with John North, who, he believed, had so wronged him that no death he could die would atone for the injury he had done.
Slowly but inexorably the full significance of Marshall's words dawned on the judge.

He had risen from his chair dumb and terror-stricken.

For a moment they stood without speech, each staring into the other's face.
Presently the judge stole to Marshall's side.
"Tell me that I misunderstand you!" he whispered in entreaty, resting a tremulous hand on his son's arm.
But the latter was bitterly resentful.