A half-hour later the messenger took his leave, and the prisoners followed a very few minutes afterwards." Albemarle turned to the prisoners.

"You have heard Mr.Trenchard's story.

How do you say--is it true or untrue ?" "You will waste breath in denying it," Trenchard took it again upon himself to admonish them.

"For I have with me the landlord of the Hare and Hounds, who will corroborate, upon oath, what I have said." "We do not deny it," put in Blake.

"But we submit that the matter is susceptible to explanation." "You can keep your explanations till your trial, then," snapped Albemarle.