She is in sufficiently good health now, I believe, to give her testimony.
Pray, say nothing." Mr.Roberts had started to his feet.

"Do nothing.

You will be one of the witnesses called----" There he stopped, meeting with steady gaze the wild eyes of the man who was staring at him, staring at them all in an effort to hold them back, while his finger crept stealthily and ever more stealthily toward his right-hand vest-pocket.
"You would dare," he shouted, then suddenly dropped his hand and broke into a low, inarticulate murmur, harrowing and dreadful to hear.

To some it sounded like a presage to absolute confession, but presently this murmur took on a distinctness, and they heard him say: "I should be glad to have five minutes' talk with Mrs.Taylor before that time.

In your presence, gentlemen, or in anybody's presence, I do not care whose." Did he know--had he felt whose step was in the hall, whose form was at the door?
If he did, then the agitation which in another moment shook his self-possession into ashes was that of hope realized, not of fear surprised.