XXXVII
CULMINATION
"Saint seducing gold."
Romeo and Juliet.
"When our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors."
Macbeth.
I NEVER saw such a look of mortal triumph on the face of a man as that which crossed the countenance of the detective.
"Well," said he, "this is unexpected, but not wholly unwelcome. I am truly glad to learn that Miss Leavenworth is innocent; but I must hear some few more particulars before I shall be satisfied. Get up, Mr. Harwell, and explain yourself. If you are the murderer of Mr. Leavenworth, how comes it that things look so black against everybody but yourself?"
But in the hot, feverish eyes which sought him from the writhing form at his feet, there was mad anxiety and pain, but little explanation. Seeing him making unavailing efforts to speak, I drew near.
"Lean on me," said I, lifting him to his feet.
His face, relieved forever from its mask of repression, turned towards me with the look of a despairing spirit. "Save! save!" he gasped. "Save her—Mary—they are sending a report—stop it!"
"Yes," broke in another voice. "If there is a man
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