He ceased, and she looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and fear.
Then he referred to her dreadful situation.
'I needn't tell you, Eleanor, that as your counsel you must confide in me fully. I have heard the story so far as it is public, and up to now I may tell you that, as a matter of law, you are in no real danger.'
'In no danger? What do you mean? Is the murderer discovered?'
'No, and never may be. But neither is the body.'
'Don't you know?' answered the barrister. 'I thought most people knew that till the body was discovered no one could be convicted of murder.'
A ray of hope shone out in the prisoner's face.
'Then do you mean that Miss Lewis may be alive still?' she asked quickly.
'No, no. Nobody doubts that she is dead, nor that someone has killed her. But the point is this, that you cannot be legally tried and convicted. The body has disappeared.'
The heavy shade of despair settled down once more.
'What good is that?' she answered reproachfully. 'If they believe me guilty it makes it worse for me, because I can never be acquitted. I shall be suspected till I die. Oh, I would rather suffer death, I think.'
'Hush, hush!' he exclaimed, shocked and agitated. 'Listen to me, and try to bear it as best you can. The evidence against you is simply overwhelming. Probably I am the only man in the world who believes in your innocence.'
'Except the murderer, of course. But what I want to say is this--as things stand now no jury that ever breathed would acquit you. Only a miracle can reveal the truth. But what I can do, and mean to do, for you is to save you on the ground I have told you of. You must expect nothing more.'
'George, it will kill me! Alone, hated, abhorred, what use would my life be to me when the whole world believed me guilty? No, I will pray for a miracle; but if not----' She stopped and panted in anguish of soul.
Her suffering was reflected on the man's face.
'Don't--don't talk like that!' he cried. 'Remember, there will be always one who trusts you, one who reveres you, loves you! I don't mean to ask anything. I would not speak to you like this if I could help it; but remember, if the worst comes to the worst, you have always one friend to turn to, one man who asks no higher joy than to pass his life with you, whether here or in some far-off country, and devote himself to soothing your distress.'