He did not have to follow with his eye the point of the District Attorney's finger to know upon whose name it had settled; and for a moment, surprise, shock,--the greatest which can befall a man,--struggled with countless other emotions in his usually impassive countenance.

Then he regained his poise, and with a curiously sarcastic smile such as his lips had seldom shown, he coldly asked: "And by what stretch of probability do you pick me out for this attack?
There were other men and women in this court, some very near me if I remember rightly.

In what are their characters superior, or their claims to respect greater, that you should thus single me out as the fool or knave who could not only commit so wild and despicable an act, but go so far in folly--let alone knavery--as to conceal it afterward ?" "No evidence has been found against the others you have named which could in any way connect them with this folly--or shall we say knavery, since you yourself have made use of the word.

But hard as it is for me to say this, in a presence so highly esteemed, this is not true of you, Mr.
Roberts, however high are our hopes that you will have such explanations ready as will relieve our minds from further doubts, and send us home rejoicing.

Shall I be frank in stating the precise reasons which seem to justify our present presumption ?" The director bowed, the same curious smile giving an unnatural expression to his mouth.
"Let me begin then," the other continued, "by reading to you a list of questions made out at Headquarters, as a test by which suspicion might be conscientiously held or summarily dismissed.