Carlos drove into Dalton terribly depressed and apprehensive. In the rain-storm he had turned up the collar of his coat and buttoned it tightly, thus shielding from the rain a portion of the blood stains. He saw that these were not entirely washed off. The words of the murderer in regard to fastening the crime on him still rang in his ears.

“If Icould have returned immediately,” he thought, “instead of waiting until morning, it would have been better. What will people say? They are talking about it now.”

In a misery of doubt and despondency he drove up the street.

Some one caught sight of him, and uttering an exclamation to a little knot or men, pointed at him.

Still Carlos drove on, determined to encounter whatever might come.

Five or six men rushed to the carriage, and one, seizing the horse’s head, stopped him.

“That’s the man!” exclaimed one.

“Yes, that’s one of the nephews,” said another.

“Where’s your cousin?” demanded a third.

“Yes, tell us that! Where were you both all night?”

Others ran to the spot, until there was a crowd around the carriage.

“Gentlemen,” said Carlos, “Iknow what you are talking about, but Iam innocent——”

“Oh, yes, of course. But you were not in bed last night, as a peaceable citizen should be!”

“Iwent to Knoxtown to a concert——”

“Yes, he looks like a man that has been to a concert, doesn’t he?”

“Wait till Iexplain. Ireturned by the road that passes Colonel Conrad’s house, and saw a light in his window. Iwent to see what it meant, and horror-stricken——”

At this juncture a tall, keen-eyed man, who had not joined in the sagacious exclamations that had come from others in the crowd, stepped up and said:

“See here, young man, you are excited and agitated. But you are not on the witness stand. You are not obliged to answer any questions or make any explanations here. You can see enough to know that the people think you have murdered Colonel Conrad. My advice is that you keep silent. You will be arrested and examined, and then will be time enough to talk. It isn’t best to say too much now.”

The man seemed to be moved to compassion at his distressed face, and spoke kindly though decisively.

“Thank you, sir,” said Carlos. “Iwill act on your advice. Where is the officer? Iam ready to give myself up.”

He leaned back in the carriage seat, folding his arms.

Some of the crowd grumbled, but the man who had spoken reminded them that the street was not a court-room, and that there was a manner provided by law for proceeding in the case.

At this juncture two policemen approached and jumped into the carriage. One of them slipped a pair of handcuffs on Carlos, and the other took the reins. They drove to the jail, where Carlos was conducted into a cell and locked up, and left alone.

The excitement under which he had labored, and which had subsided into depression, now deepened into intense gloom. That his uncle should die immediately after he had delivered the message from his father, and before the result was made known, was a sufficiently deplorable event. The manner in which he had met his death was still more terrible. But that Carlos himself should be accused, with apparently good reason, of being the murderer, seemed to be the culmination of misfortune. He gave way to the burden that was cast upon him, and for hours his mind was in a hopelessly torpid state.

He made no reply to the question as to whether he desired counsel, and so dead did he seem to everything passing around him, that the jailer deemed it best to call in a physician.

Dr. Davison was summoned. He was the tall, keen-eyed man that had offered the timely counsel to Carlos when he was besieged by the crowd.

When he entered the cell the prisoner was apparently unaware of his presence.

The physician felt of his pulse, looked at his face critically, and examined the eyes that refused to direct their glance at him.

“He is in a kind of stupor now,” he said. “His trouble has overcome him. Iwill come again in an hour.”

Toward noon he returned, and gave the prisoner something stimulating. Carlos looked up; a flash of intelligence passed across his face.

“Ah,” he said, “you are the gentleman that gave me advice this morning. What are you doing here now?”

“Iam a physician,” replied Dr.Davison. “In that capacity Iam your friend. How do you feel?”

“Iscarcely know. My head seems confused. Ican hardly think.”

“But it will be necessary for you to think. You are now ill. You have some fever, and are discouraged. But, with the help of my medicine and your own resolution, you must be aroused. You are resting under a grave charge. It is not for me to say whether you are guilty or innocent——”

“Before God, Iam innocent!” exclaimed Carlos. “Ican explain——”

“Yes; but you must not explain now. Do not say anything to me. Idon’t want to have to repeat words in court that may damage you. You must employ a lawyer, and a good one. Pardon me, but Ifeel an interest in you. You don’t look like a ruffian.”

“Thank you. Those few words encourage me. Iknow the evidence that is against me, and it is strong. But it is surely impossible for me to be convicted, when Iam innocent. Such a wrong cannot take place.”

“Any wrong may take place,” said the doctor, quietly, “if no effort is made to stay it. But Ihave no right to talk to you. My duty relates only to your health. You will be all right if you will follow my directions. You will probably employ a lawyer, and, as the examination will take place this afternoon, you had better have a consultation as soon as you feel able to endure it. Take one of these powders every half-hour. Good-day.”

“Good-day,” said Carlos. “Iam greatly obliged to you.”

After Doctor Davison was gone, he meditated for some time upon the course he should take. He finally sent for the jailer, and inquired the names of the legal profession of Dalton.

“Well,” said the jailer, “there’s Squire Bailey; he’s an old one, and been pretty lucky; there’s McDonald, who is just busy all the time with civil suits, though Idon’t think he’s had much to do with criminal cases; and there’s Royalton, who, though a young man, has served one term as district-attorney. He, of course, has had some experience in prosecuting, and might know better how to meet the case on that account. He is death on badgering a witness and can make a jury think almost anything he has a mind to.”

“Isuppose he stands well in the community?”

“Oh, bless you, yes. One of the leaders of society; goes to church regularly; and just now very popular on account of taking sides against a railroad company that’s trying to cram a pretty big dose down the people’s throats.”

“Well,” said Carlos, “Ithink I’ll retain him, if possible. Will you be so kind as to send for him?”

“Certainly; can Ido anything to make you comfortable?”

“No, thank you. Iwould like to have Mr.Royalton come as soon as possible.”

In less than half an hour the lawyer was conducted into the presence of Carlos. The two were left alone.

Mr.Royalton was rather tall, of erect stature, and commanding presence. Adark mustache and flowing side-whiskers graced a face of intelligence and decision. His eyes were dauntless and searching in their expression; and his whole countenance and general air indicated a man of energy and deliberate promptness, so to speak, in pursuing any undertaking in which he might be engaged.

He bowed courteously to Carlos. The latter spoke at once:

“My full name,” he said, “is Carlos Conrad. And yours——”

The lawyer handed him a printed card, which read as follows:

“CHAS. H. ROYALTON,

ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW,

Dalton.”

“Iam here under a terrible charge,” said Carlos.

“Yes,” said Mr.Royalton. “Do you wish to retain me?”

“Certainly, if you will consent to act in my behalf. As a preliminary, permit me to advance this.”

He extended a hundred-dollar bill, which Mr.Royalton accepted, with a bow.

“Ihave a bank account in New York of three thousand dollars, on which Ican draw in case of necessity,” said Carlos.

“Very good,” said Mr.Royalton. “And now you must state to me, without reserve, all circumstances connected with this affair. Whether you are committed for trial or not, we must make as good a show as possible at the examination. Let me have your perfect confidence.”

Carlos then related to Mr.Royalton the arrival of himself and Leonard in Dalton, and told every circumstance of their stay up to the fatal evening. Of the occurrences associated with the murder he gave a detailed account. The lawyer listened attentively, and made occasional notes on an envelope he took from his pocket. His countenance did not change during the entire recital, and at its close Carlos could not discern his thoughts concerning the aspect of the case. He meditated for a moment, and then asked:

“What was the nature of the misunderstanding between your uncle and your father?”

“It was a family matter,” replied Carlos, “in which Geoffrey Haywood was, as Ihave said, the prime mischief-maker.”

“Have you any evidence of this?”

“None but that contained in the accounts Ileft with my uncle.”

“That is unfortunate. Haywood stands well in Dalton.”

“Ido not think there will be any necessity of bringing it up,” said Carlos. “It has no bearing on the case. Iwould prefer that it be not mentioned.”

“Why?”

“First, because it is strictly of a private nature, and, now that the brothers are both dead, is of no concern to any one. My only errand was to convince my uncle that he had no cause for enmity against my father. Whether Isucceeded in this Ido not know, and probably never shall. Second, my unsupported word would probably go for little against that of Haywood. He would probably make the old enmity operate against me. If the matter is alluded to at all, the house of the late Colonel Conrad ought to be searched, and the documents found and exhibited in full.”

“You may be right,” said Mr.Royalton. “We will let that point drop, since you desire it. Where is your cousin, Leonard Lester?”

“Ido not know. Isupposed that he would return from his fishing excursion last evening, but from what some one in the crowd said this morning, Iinfer that he did not.”

“He ought to be found. His testimony may be wanted.”

“On what point? He knew nothing of the murder.”

“The question might arise as to the character of the interview with your uncle—whether there was any quarrel or misunderstanding.”

“There was no quarrel, unless——”

“Unless what?”

“He at first attempted to slander my father, and Iused some high words, perhaps. But it soon passed over.”

“Humph! We will hope that nobody was within hearing distance!”

Carlos stared a moment, and then a shade passed over his face. He saw the force of the lawyer’s remark.

“Ihave been thinking of one thing,” he at length said, “and that is what the murderer could have wanted of the slip of paper Itook from my uncle’s hand. It contained only the words, ‘seven o’clock,’ which certainly have no meaning in themselves.”

“Have you it here now?”

“Yes, here it is.”

The lawyer took it and examined it.

“It is a torn fragment,” he said.

“Yes,” replied Carlos, “and Ijudge from the envelope lying on the table that my uncle must have been writing. He was, perhaps, holding an unfinished letter in his hand and looking it over. The murderer jerked it hastily, and tore it, leaving this piece in his victim’s grasp. Now whether it contains the finishing words of some information conveyed in the larger part, is more than Iknow. But that is the only theory by which Ican account for the villain’s anxiety to obtain it.”

The lawyer considered for a moment. Finally he said:

“Iwill think about it. This point may be worthy of special attention. But say nothing about this, or any other feature of the case, to any living person. Keep your mouth resolutely closed against all ears but mine.”

Carlos promised to observe this caution.

“And now,” said Mr.Royalton, “listen. First, for fear that my words may discourage you, let me declare my belief in your innocence, and assure you that not an effort shall be left unmade in your behalf. But the case has a bad look. Colonel Conrad received thirty thousand dollars in gold, yesterday, and that cannot be found. Leonard Lester is missing, and people have jumped at the conclusion that he is your accomplice, and that his fishing excursion was a ruse, and that he has made off with the gold to some point where you intend to join him.”

“Good Heaven!” ejaculated Carlos. “You do not believe this?”

“Certainly not. But you see again the importance of your cousin being here.”

“Yes. Iam at a loss to think what can have delayed his return.”

“We will hope that he will appear in due time. And now you must put yourself entirely in my hands. You see what a coloring circumstantial evidence can give an affair. Your own consciousness of innocence will go for naught against it. Everything depends on shrewd management and careful working. Imust now leave you and study over my plans. As for yourself, be ready at the examination to follow whatever course Imay indicate. Iwill now say to you, confidentially, that Ibelieve this murder was committed with some other object than that of robbery—that there is some dark unknown purpose at the bottom of it. If you ask me why, Imust decline to tell. Perhaps Icould not reply in terms sufficiently definite to be satisfactory and convincing to you.”

“Ileave everything to you,” said Carlos.

“That is right. Good-day.”

“Good-day.”

After the lawyer was gone, and the stimulus of mental occupation no longer remained, Carlos began to feel ill again. Alanguor seized him, followed by a chill, which was in turn succeeded by a paroxysm of fever. Doctor Davison was again summoned, and on the strength of his report of the prisoner’s condition, the examination was postponed to the following day.