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t Hallijohn was killed。 That he frequently rode out in the direction of West Lynne； especially toward evening； would be away three or four hours； and come home with the horse in a foam。 Also that he picked up two letters at different times； which Mr。 Levison had carelessly let fall from his pocket； and returned them to him。 Both the notes were addressed 〃Captain Thorn。〃 But they had not been through the post； for there was no further superscription on them； and the writing looked like a lady's。 He remembered quite well hearing of the murder of Hallijohn； the witness added； in answer to a question； it made a great stir through out the country。 It was just at that same time that Mr。 Levison concluded his visit； and returned to London。
〃A /wonderful/ memory！〃 Mr。 Rubiny sarcastically remarked。
The witness； a quiet； respectable man； replied that he /had/ a good memory； but that circumstances had impressed upon it particularly the fact that Mr。 Levison's departure followed close upon the murder of Hallijohn。
〃One day； when Sir Peter was round at the stables； gentlemen； he was urging his nephew to prolong his visit； and asked what sudden freak was taking him off。 Mr。 Levison replied that unexpected business called him to London。 While they were talking； the coachman came up； all in a heat； telling that Hallijohn； of West Lynne； had been murdered by young Mr。 Hare。 I remember Sir Peter said he could not believe it； and that it must have been an accident； not murder。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃There was more said。 Mr。 Levison； in a shameful sort of manner； asked his uncle； would he let him have five or ten pounds？ Sir Peter seemed angry； and asked； what had he done with the fifty…pound note he had made him a present of only the previous morning？ Mr。 Levison replied that he had sent that away to a brother officer； to whom he was in debt。 Sir Peter refused to believe it； and said he had more likely squandered it upon some disgraceful folly。 Mr。 Levison denied that he had； but he looked confused； indeed； his matter altogether was confused that morning。〃
〃Did he get the five or ten pounds？〃
〃I don't know； gentlemen。 I dare say he did； for my master was as persuadable as a woman； though he'd fly out a bit sometimes at first。 Mr。 Levison departed for London that same night。〃
The last witness called was Mr。 Dill。 On the previous Tuesday evening； he had been returning home from spending an hour at Mr。 Beauchamp's； when； in a field opposite to Mr。 Justice Hare's； he suddenly heard a commotion。 It arose from the meeting of Sir Francis Levison and Otway Bethel。 The former appeared to have been enjoying a solitary moonlight ramble； and the latter to have encountered him unexpectedly。 Words ensued。 Bethel accused Sir Francis of 〃shirking〃 him。 Sir Francis answered angrily that he knew nothing of him； and nothing he wanted to know。
〃 'You were glad enough to know something of me the night of Hallijohn's murder；' retorted Bethel to this。 'Do you remember that I could hang you。 One little word from me； and you'd stand in Dick Hare's place。'
〃 'You fool！' passionately cried Sir Francis。 'You couldn't hang me without putting your own head in a noose。 Did you not have your hush money？ Are you wanting to do me out of more？'
〃 'A cursed paltry note of fifty pounds！' foamed Otway Bethel； 'which； many a time since； I have wished my fingers were blown off before they touched。 I never should have touched it； but that I was altogether overwhelmed with the moment's confusion。 I have not been able to look Mrs。 Hare in the face since； knowing that I held the secret that would save her son from the hangman。'
〃 'And put yourself in his place；' sneered Sir Francis。
〃 'No。 Put you。'
〃 'That's as it might be。 But； if I went to the hangman； you would go with me。 There would be no excuse or escape for you。 You know it。' 〃
The warfare continued longer； but this was the cream of it。 Mr。 Dill heard the whole； and repeated it now to the magistrate。 Mr。 Rubiny protested that it was 〃inadmissible；〃 〃hearsay evidence；〃 〃contrary to law；〃 but the bench oracularly put Mr。 Rubiny down； and told him they did not want any stranger to come there and teach them their business。
Colonel Bethel had leaned forward at the conclusion of Mr。 Dill's evidence； dismay on his face； agitation in his voice。 〃Are you sure that you made no mistakethat the other in this interview was Otway Bethel？〃
Mr。 Dill sadly shook his head。 〃Am I one to swear to a wrong man； colonel？ I wish I had not heard itsave that it may be the means of clearing Richard Hare。〃
Sir Francis Levison had braved out the proceedings with a haughty； cavalier air； his delicate hands and his diamond ring remarkably conspicuous。 Was that stone the real thing； or a false one； substituted for the real？ Hard up as he had long been for money； the suspicion might arise。 A derisive smile crossed his features at parts of the evidence； as much as to say； 〃You may convict me as to Mademoiselle Afy； but you can't as to the murder。〃 When； however； Mr。 Dill's testimony was given； what a change was there！ His mood tamed down to what looked like abject fear； and he shook in his shoes as he stood。
〃Of course your worships will take bail for Sir Francis？〃 said Mr。 Rubiny； at the close of the proceedings。
Bail！ The bench looked at one another。
〃Your worships will not refuse ita gentleman in Sir Francis Levison's position！〃
The bench thought they never had so insolent an application made to them。 Bail for him！on this charge！ No； not if the lord chancellor himself came down to offer it。
Mr。 Otway Bethel； conscious； probably； that nobody would offer bail for him； not even the colonel； did not ask the bench to take it。 So the two were fully committed to take their trial for the 〃Wilful murder； otherwise the killing and slaying of George Hallijohn；〃 and before night would be on their road to the county prison at Lynneborough。
And that vain； ill…starred Afy！ What of her？ Well； Afy had retreated to the witness…room again； after giving evidence； and there she remained to the close； agreeably occupied in a mental debate。 What would they make out from her admission regarding her sojourn in London and the morning calls？ How would that precious West Lynne construe it？ She did not much care； she would brave it out； and assail them with towering indignation； did any dare to cast a stone at her。
Such was her final decision； arrived at just as the proceedings terminated。 Afy was right glad to remain where she was； till some of the bustle had gone。
〃How was it ended？〃 asked she of Mr。 Ball； who； being a bachelor； was ever regarded with much graciousness by Afy； for she kept her eyes open to contingencies； although Mr。 Joe Jiffin was held in reserve。
〃They are both committed for wilful murderoff to Lynneborough within an hour！〃
Afy's color rose。 〃What a shame！ To commit two innocent men upon such a charge。〃
〃I can tell you what； Miss Afy； the sooner you disabuse your mind of that prejudice； the better。 Levison has been as good as proved guilty to…day； but if proof were wanting； he and Bethel have criminated each other。 'When rogues fall out； honest men get their own。' Not that I can quite fathom