The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-02

But you have accused me of o crime,
and demand to be judgedl'' l cried.
81 have already judged you,' he said
after a pause. lay ing down his pen with a
sudden oalmness, and fixing his grey eyes
keenly upon me.
Yes, falsely"
"You have come to ME to prove that
have misiuGged you,' he said at last,
leaning back in his chair, VERY well.
Let me hear your story.
81 have no story further than what
have already told you," / answered.
"You have made charge against me; I
have cosle TO you to refute it. -
by what means?"
"By documentary evidence. +"
Documentary evidenceY" he ex-
claimed. COZ what kind?"
'You will remem Der that I told you of
the death of the only man who could
speak regarding my absence from the
Office, and my return?'
Eyes. He died mysteriously. The in
quest was held yesterday" and taking up
a letter from his table, the Earl added.
'sIhey report from Scotland Yard that an
open verdict was returned, although one
witness, a woman, alleged murder. Well,
what was the allegation? Against your
self?" he asked, raising his grey shaggy
broWs.
NO." 1 said with emphasis. 81 am
not murderer.
"Then why did this woman-what' s
ing o the letter, "why did she allege foul
play?'
Il cannot tell; but all the facts I have
ascertained point to the same conclusion
although the medical evidence negatiyed
any such suggestion"
'Then what is your contentlon?'
"That the man who Nss my friend was
"You would shift the responsibility
upon one who, being dead, can tell us
nothing he said in tone of reproachful
contempt. 81 suspected this. 1t was but
what might have been expected.
"But | have evidence indisputable that
he was spy" exclaimed excitedly.
"Read this" and I handed to HIM Dud-
1ey's pa sport.
Spreading it out before him, he carefully
adjusted his gold pince-nez and after a
little difficulty translated it. Then. with
out expressing any surprise he turned it
over, and held the paper to the light of
the window, examining the water-msrk.
"Mell," he exclaimed calmly at last.
"What else?'
placed before him the crumpled sheets
of foolscap wherein attempts had been
made, and successfully, too, to initiate
my handwriting, explaining where 1 had
discovered them. These he also examined
very infinitely, giving vent to low
grInt as was habitual to him when reas-
sured.
Anything more?" he asked impatient.
ly. 81 can't waste time. The outlook is
TOO serious"
"But you must-you shall spare time
to fully investigate this mystery" |
cried "You will remember that the
dummy envelope you took from your
safe bore an imitation Of your private
seal?"
Eyes. What of that?''
HHere is the seal with which that i'm
preston was made, l replied in triumph
handing to him the little brass stamp II
have had thesportions of wax MICROSCOPE
cally examined, and they are of the same
Wax as was used to seal the dummy"
He took it between his thin fingers that
now trembled with excitement. The
production of this object was, saw en-
tirely unexpected. Suddenly rising from
his chair he unlocked his great safe and
Then, returning to his table, he lit
taper and carefully made an impression
in wax of the seal had given him, after
wards taking it to the light, and by the
aid of large magnifying-gla compared
it closely with the seal upon the du my.
''A nd where did you find this 81 alf'' he
inquired, CHANGING across to me.
pockets" answered.
impossible" he retorted. 1.-the police
have possession of everything found on
the man. "
"Yes, they had, but this came into my
possession yesterday at the inquest"
"HOw?'
I hecitated, then, determined to conceal
no fact from the great statesman, 1 an
swered boldly: II stole If from the table
yhereOn 1t was diSplayed -
"Stole It'll" he echoed. Slowly he
turned the brass stamp over in his hand,
as if deep in thought; then, with brows
knit in anger, he looked me straight in
the face, exolaiming bluntly:
your story is an absolute tissue of lies
from beginning to end.
His words startled me- I had expected
him to be eager to further probe the mys-
terry, and try and elucidate the manner in
which Dudley had manufactured the
dummy and exchanged it for the secret
convention. Instead of this he was dis
trustful and suspicious; indeed he boldly
accused ms of attempting to .wilfully
mislead him and conceal the truth.
81 have told you no lies. Every word
have uttered is the TRUTH" l answered,
with fierce indignation.
"You certainly never obtained possession
of this seal in the manner IN which you
would have me believe, for the detectives
sent to Sta1nes had strict 1nJuncGlons to
search for any object that would lead
them to suppose the dead man was not
what he represented himself to be, and
10 AIDE special request that any seal dis
covered might be submitted to me for
examination. II this had been in the
dead mans pockets it would have been
brought to me-
But 1 tell you it was among the arti
cles found upon him. L picked it up
from the Coroner's table, and finding it
was not missed, brought it to you, rather
than inform the police of our suspicious,
which I understood you desired should,
for the present, be kept secret"
II do not believe you" he retorted, an
griiy.
"Ask whoever searched the body, and
they will no doubt remember finding the
seal, 1 answered.
"It is quite unnecessary he ex-
claimed.
"UnDe oessary? Why?"
because [ don't believe one word of
this elegantly romantic story of yours"
''But I have brought you evidence in
black and white that Ogle was spy" l
cried.
Evidence of Sort he answered care
lessly, returning to his table and sinking
into his arm chair. "You have brought