Ormsby's face darkened. "If Sir John chooses to forget that this man is a criminal, I don't," he said to himself. Then, aloud: "Ahem! I presume you are now prepared, Sir John, to make out and sign a warrant for the committal of Mr. Drelincourt to Sunbridge jail, on the charge of which he has just admitted himself to be guilty!"
"I can't, Ormsby--I can't. I couldn't put pen to paper just now to save my life," replied the kind hearted baronet, whose distress at the position in which circumstances had placed him was self-evident. "Besides, where's the need for a warrant? Drelincourt is giving himself up voluntarily, and--and the charge against him can be taken down at the proper time and place."
"Just as you please, of course. Then, if you have no objection, I will ring for Draycot and give him the requisite instructions and have him carry them out now."
"Ormsby, one moment," said Drelincourt. "I have a few words to say to you on a topic which it is my wish never to have to refer to again. It is in reference to your sister's death. Seeing that I have never attempted to cozen my conscience by putting forward any plea of justification for what I did, other than that it was done while I was asleep, it is not likely that at this time of day I should care to urge anything in extenuation of it, either to you or to any one. Still, I think it well that you should be told, although to no one else will the fact ever pass my lips, that your sister won me for her husband by an act of treachery so base and heartless that I will spare you the pain of listening to any of its details. Believe me or not, as you please, but such is the simple truth. And now, Sir John, with your permission, I will say a few words to my wife, after which I shall be wholly at your disposal. I do not doubt but that you will allow me such a privilege."
He bowed gravely to both gentlemen, then turned and went. As he shut the door behind him and walked into the room a deep sigh welled up from his heart.
"And now for the bitterest ordeal of all!" he murmured under his breath.
"Our business here is at an end, and the sooner we get away the better," remarked Sir John to Ormsby.
"So say I. But it will be requisite to see Draycot for a minute before we go, as he must now take upon himself the responsibility of looking after Drelincourt. I suppose he will prefer being driven into Sunbridge in his brougham. Well, there's no harm in that. It's the last time he will ride in it."