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CREATURES OF CLAY
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the name of the man whom he had seen in the conservatory on the fatal night. II<' knew that the calling of Brunt into the witness box would mean the disclosure of the fact thai he had borrowed money, and he rightly feared that that fact would complete the chain of evidence welded againsl him, the first link of which was the insurance policy. The defence by his counsel was, therefore, a weak one.
The judge summed up briefly, succinctly, and the jury brought in their verdicl of
Guilty" after ten minutes' deliberation. Mrs. Bursford, listening to it in Court, with many of her friends, some of whom had been friends of Trexham, felt as if she loathed everybody connected with the trial.
'Oh yes, of course, I know, but really, given the circumstances, it is horrible that poor Trexham should be condemned. II he saw his wife in the arms of -ohm man on that night. Well, if he saw that, there are excuses for him. I would have shot either one or the other, if I had been in a like position. Any man might have done the same thing. Why, good Heavens! what would have Judge Bursford have done in such a case. //< might have killed yon !
Mrs. Bursford stared at the speaker in unbounded amazement.
"Really!" she said, and then she laughed a little rippling laugh of amusement at 1 I rrenholt's daring.
' I'm not sure thai he wouldn't have
Come away with me."
The verdicl gave little satisfaction, and in the days which followed an unsuccessful appeal, a petition was signed by millions, praying for the King's clemency, and the pardon of Arthur Trexham.
Society talked much of the matter in those days, and Mrs. Bursford, paying an afternoon call, found herself in the midst of a perfect babble of conversation on the subject.
" What do you think of it, Mrs. Bursford .'" cried a young clear-eyed man, whose firmLooking chin betokened decision of character. His remark, although tactless, was received good-humoured ly.
"Oh, don't ask me, Mr. Grenholt. I mustn't say what I think."
Perhaps I'll try him one day !
The words slipped out, and, at the same moment, the remembrance of the tiff -Inhad had in her husband's study came to her. How sure her husband seemed of himself how boastful of self-control! Yet other men hesitated to -peak with like confidence. Suppose she did test him, would he be able to exercise that self-control which he had said Trexham ought not to have lacked ' In her quick, impulsive way. she turned to [van < rrenholt.
' I'll test my husband. \\ ill you help me. Mr. ( rrenholt !
Help you, why. in what way .' " You must be a lover, my lover — pseud o, of course — and help me make my husband