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Nicky! As for standing your trial, it won’t come to that. You will have to face a coroner’s inquest, but Hitchin’s evidence must clear you of blame.” “Oh, yes!” Nicky said naively. “Hitchin told me not to put myself in a pucker, because if it had been ten times as bad he would swear the devil out of hell for one of us!” “I dare say he may have said so, but you will do better not to repeat it.” “No, of course not. Besides, he has only to tell the truth, for it happened exactly as I have told you. And it is not that I am sorry he’s dead, because I’m not, but I never thought it would have been so horrid! When I think of the way that knife slid into Eustace I feel quite sick!” “No useful purpose is served by your thinking of it any more.”
    “No. Well, I will not, but I can tell you, Ned, it almost makes me wish I had not been rusticated at all!”
    At this point, Miss Rochdale, who had all the time been standing by the table, listening with gradually increasing appreciation to young Mr. Carlyon’s artless recital, was betrayed into uttering a sound between a choke and a gasp. It brought Carlyon’s head round quickly. He said, “We are both of us forgetful of our manners. You will allow me to introduce my brother Nicholas to you, Miss Rochdale. Nicky, you do not know Miss Rochdale, I think.” “Oh, no! I beg pardon! I did not immediately perceive—How do you do?” Nicky stammered, making his bow.
    She gave her hand. “Pray do not regard it! It was very natural you should not. I should have left you with your brother but that I do not know my way about this house, and had no very clear notion where I should go. Perhaps, my lord, I might await you in—” “No, I beg you will be seated, Miss Rochdale. I shall not detain you for many more minutes, I trust.”
    “Ned, you do not say so, but I know very well you cannot like this!” Nicky burst out. “And indeed I would rather by far that you should curse me for putting you in such a fix, for of course I see that is just what I have done, though I never meant to, and Bedlington and the rest of them will set it about that you wanted me to pick a quarrel with Eustace, and I can’t see how it will all end!”
    “No, I don’t like it at all,” Carlyon replied, “but there would be very little sense in my cursing you for what you could not help. It has been an unlucky mischance, but we must trust to come about. I dare say we shall do so. Did the knife enter some vital organ? Was he killed instantly?”
    “Oh, no! In fact, I did not at first think—It seemed so unlikely that I could possibly have—But when Greenlaw saw him—”
    “Greenlaw is there?” Carlyon interrupted.
    “Yes—oh, yes! Well, of course, as soon as I knew what had occurred I ran instantly to fetch him. I thought you would say I should do so, though I never supposed it was anything but what might be easily mended. But Greenlaw says he will not last the night, and—” “Are you telling me that Eustace is still alive?” Carlyon asked sharply. “I don’t know, but I fancy so. Greenlaw said it could not be many hours, but—” “Good God, Nicky, why did you not tell me this before? It puts quite a different complexion on the matter!”
    “Does it make it better?” Nicky asked hopefully.
    “Most certainly it does! One evil consequence may at least be averted. How came you here? In Hitchin’s gig?”
    “Yes—and now I come to think of it I have left it standing outside, so I had best—” “Matthew may drive it back to Wisborough Green. Tell him so! You will find my traveling carriage in the stable yard. Desire Steyning to convey you to the Hall, and say I shall not need him again tonight. Now go, Nicky! And mind you do not talk of this to any save John!” “Yes, but, Ned, I had as lief—”
    “No, do as I bid you!”
    “Yes, but where do you go, Ned?”
    “I am going to Eustace, of course, to try what I can do to untangle this coil.” “Well, I think