A Butterfly on the Wheel

ams came down to breakfast at the Cocoa Tree Club. He ordered his grilled kidneys in the quaint, old-fashioned dining-room, with its rare sportin

en extended for reasons of health, and who was also a member of the

you still hold to you

you. You see, you don't know Mrs. Admaston. I know her quite well, and I really doubt whether it is the chivalrous thin

s you like. I can easily find someone else who will be only too glad to drop in for an hour or two. That's all I want to do-just to see what's going on. You see it is the case of the century almost. I am not up in the statistics of this sort of thing, but I doubt if a Cab

n't do any harm, after all; and I am sure all my sym

ng in the hotel in Paris at the very time it all happened gives the thing a special interest for us. When I go back to India every

all its old associations of the past. They fidgeted about a little, smoked a cigarette, while they looked down into the busy St. Ja

d almost to suffocation as the two men entered and found, with some difficulty, the seats which h

before him, and seated below the judge was the a

t was so with Colonel Adams. This was the first time he had ever entered the great building

e privileged of society sitting behind the solicitors; Admasto

row the leadin

het-like alertness of his countenance. Sir Robert Fyffe, huge-framed, and with a face like the risen moon. Mr. M'Art

then Lady Attwill, other members of society, and the

packed with people, and there was a cur

point-to the witness-box, wh

entered both Mr. M'Arthur and S

s stage," the President was saying. "No doubt, if Sir Robert's cross-examination fo

rt Fyffe

rdship plea

notebook. He was Mrs. Admaston's leadin

harges you have to meet. It is alleged that you arranged to miss the train

d through the dull, blanke

vour to present a true picture of what they themselves have witnessed. And in the result almost every one whose experience of trials is taken almost entirely

nged with people-this is the real theatre where t

nued, "that, having reached Paris, you permitted Mr. Coll

room opened out of mine," Mrs. Admast

slim young woman in the witness-box. She was very simply dressed.

unsel, Colonel Adams and Henry Passhe

call it ostentatious," he said, "or something of a trick. When a woman has an income of eighty thousand pounds a year quit

rs. He didn't in the least underst

ued,-"it is said that you permitted Mr. Collingwood to enter your room

ved hands rested upon th

came in because he heard the telephone. I think he thought that

me in, and you per

go, but we were great friends, and-wel

n face of the President regarded couns

their breath. The junior counsel leant forward from their benc

d, "that while you were alone together

nt looked up and watched the witness keenly. Mr. M'Arthur nodded to himself as if very pleased with the res

n his face was perfect

u ever, Mrs. Admaston-ever, on any occasion or

-never!" Peg

d been. Tense and strung up, her personality had become

e court-with a half glance a

ir Robert Fyffe, was against him, and the case itself was a thoroughly weak one. He, accomplished barrister, ac

ert Fyf

lly about him-such a suggestion of friendliness even when he was most deadly,-that the eminence he enjoyed w

s. Admaston wit

ston, that the events of the 23rd Marc

nduring, but all her answers to counsel were delivered clearly and openly. They had either a frank innoc

e suspicious than oth

ustly suspicious of some

perhap

urself among those persons upon whom

orously. "I thin

r in the kindliest way. His voice-which carried right t

ought not to have allowed even these

usted me implicit

e a remark sotto voce. "Perh

up in a second and

has no right to s

ng very little interest at all in t

hat he said," he

't mind Sir Robert," Peggy said

replied. "Now, Mrs. Admaston, I suppose you were v

wered; "but not very seriously. You s

ewigged head. "I suppose not,

e court. "I don't think it was anybody's

been avoided by registeri

" Peggy answer

tiating face. "Can you," he asked, "suggest a

e mistake of a porte

a custom-house officer-quite a chapter of

nd something consoling in

!" she sai

he manner or in the voice

ing Cross?" he asked-blandly still, but with a t

e was together

ggage of the

Peggy r

dmaston? I mean, apart f

e wa

your luggage when you go ab

lway

on, why did you no

who is a great traveller, chaffed me about being

almost jumped-experienced

r. Collingwood sa

" Peggy replie

ked up. His kindly but aus

y?" h

y lord," she said; "otherwise I should

I see," he said. "The boxes fortunat

and as she did it there was a little rip

udge who was trying this case had me

trying the case of her innocence or guilt, and Mr. M'Arthur or Sir Robert Fyffe, K.C., M.P. She was bewildered. She had met all these men at dinner-parties or receptions. She still thought that this was all

ple of laughter right through the court whe

cky, Mrs. Admaston," he said grimly. "And did Mr. Co

Peggy a

llerdine and Lady Attwill had the in

ggy answe

er odd that your luggage shou

it didn't," she said. "It str

Fyffe's voice. The blandness an

maid as odd?"

more suspicious than we are," Peggy ans

slight expression of compunction. He had known this little butterfly in private life, but now professional

ere to say what I think

ment. She was fighting desperately,

said, and there was a slight murmur an

eyes above his glasses

was re

Sir Robert, "had the good

es

e luggage at Charing Cross-the lu

think

that you would remember the

mber something. "No," she said do

h him?" Sir Robert continued, his face as

don't r

n your boxes in

es

you remember having a talk w

htly. Something seem

quickly. "Wasn't

said. "At anyrate, a great admirer." Then he tu

h the society people were sitting, a broad, shor

d to Mrs. Admaston, "

f the box with real interes

tfully; "I could no

r that he is the man with wh

be right, Sir Robe

ent, Mr. Collingwood, recognises the m

nt answered quietly. "We

. Would you be surprised to hear that your luggage and Mr. Collingwood's was not registered, upon the express instructions

e against my client. Even if Mr. Collingwood was acting as her

ing. "If it should turn out, Mrs. Admaston, that Mr. Collingwood gave express instructions tha

should have given such i

" said Sir R

lied, then stopped s

hat the judge had lifted his hea

s. Admaston?" Sir Robe

not answ

gesture of the right hand. "Unless he had intended to give his friends the slip at

the girl answered, "until it

you as absur

es rather,"

y engaged rooms at the H?tel des Tuileries for himself and a lady, two days befo

ngaged at all before we arri

hat you had no knowledge of the fact that your luggage was not registered, and that you had no knowledge

ver-none at all," Peggy r

ef that you had no knowledge of the fact that both your bedro

so, Sir

ons when you got to Paris to tel

ngwood did

your h

was not

ing perfectly still. All eyes were directed to the slim figure of the girl in the witness-box. The hush was not broken by any sounds, sav

t asked, with a deep

e answer; and even as she gave it Peggy's heart sank like lea

your husband to think that you and

it," she

ou tell him? You h

ng wha

ce still wore an expectant look. H

ourt as they heard it smiled, frowned, or si

t know why I d

You didn't tell because yo

that is true,"

you heard the eviden

, I

he room; that you stayed by and heard the co-respondent tell your husband that Lord Ellerdine was

answer, came in the fainte

es

Passhe looked at each other significantly. "That's done for her," Passhe whispered to his friend. Ladie

u connive a

w. Really, I

fuse to speak t

lently gazin

annoyed your husband to think that you

ed him," Peggy answered,

at the only fact which made you afraid to speak to your husband was because

, with a little flicker of the

Fyffe-and no man at the Bar was fairer than

Robert," Peggy said; "b

on of feeling, but was probably sincere enough. His duty lay before him, however

d that you were alone in Paris? What made you agree with Mr. Collingwood, Lord Ellerdi

nswered. "I was very upset,

ls of her answer with lightning rapidity. "

lf from something, something that was slowly but surely tight

she said

it had quite died away, the accusing voice was heard: "Nothing? If that is so, can you gi

thought they wer

e, Mrs. Admaston," he continued, as Peggy looked round the court helpl

glad to be able to say something for a

e and Lady Attwill believed that

lied, not in the least seei

to Paris by the night train instead of letting you join them at C

replied, "that he thoug

at he thought he was shielding yo

. And again there was a ripple

t significant one it was. Then he turned quickly to the witness-box. "Nothing!

it foolish. I saw that they had told a lying story to my husba

wish to give your good-natured friends away

ed, "and I loathe

that you had deceived your hu

er with a pause, and

the impression that your presenc

es

your room with

es

time did

10 or

r supper? I suppose y

so," Pegg

think, was not cleared before you

es

nd the time betw

re tal

r not to clear away so that

forget," P

you were no

N

a charmin

es

here was due to a deliberate and successfu

illed, remorseless hands, Peggy

y which was strangely piteous under the circumstanc

rt, "that Mr. Collingwood made h

Mr. Collingwood made t

aith in Mr. Collingwood?" said

aken by the hired evidence of detective

that, Mrs. Admaston,"

your presence in Paris was not due

while she was doing my ha

n old and privi

an a servant. She i

e sure

olut

s nod sent a shiver of apprehension

ion?" he asked, and there was a s

Peggy

ld me that you were annoyed, but not seriously, at missing the train,

to have fallen a little

eggy replied, s

uch distressed at the turn

it might have been a totally innocent misappre

rippling out

eem inconsola

y one in the court; even Sir Robert's r

ce,-"I daresay you would as soon be stranded i

ggy said. "He is a ve

swered, "I may allow myself to

said, "it would not be the first

" the K.C. replied with a courtly bow, a

ulders, touched his wig, and looked at Peggy keenly. He was once more the k

joined you and you got undressed." Here Sir Robert put his pince-nez upon his nose, and leant over to see the ground

with intense scrutiny. Then, having refreshed his me

"had left you by the door leadi

Peggy r

was occupying the room

on

ent your ma

es

hat that the telephone bell

y after," Pe

fe-interested in it as if she were playing some game of which the issue would not matter. At

answer it?" Sir

" she

of his gown and looked at her

lord and the jury wh

ck to the door-I suddenly heard M

were surprised-startled?"

eggy answe

was quite unconscious of the marked hostility of his attitude, but the game, the big, exciting game which he was playing, whic

knocked?

eplied, "or of course I shou

"You were hardly dressed to

, har

angry, Mrs

gry," Peg

id you show

im to go back

he

N

of atmosphere of French farce about the sombre court. Every one had, by now, forgotten that they had lunched and dined at the hospitable ta

ent. He looked towards his friend, but he saw that Colonel Adams's lean brown face was drawn and wrinkled up with pain. Then he himself-for he

rt said, "that made

not answer, but Si

ke you more a

laughter-she was a butterfly, a thing of sunshine and

n angry very l

which she answered. His big voice went

u were

go," Peggy repl

r Robert. "But you

ble persistence, that bland, pas

aced herself once more to stand up against this relentless o

r Robert," she answered. "I

it, why did you not care to spea

ings," she replied, "and yet not

less things which you didn't care to tell

, and her voice rang out with a dreadful

d Mr. Collingwood to stay wi

long," she

phone call from

ppose

iteness. But by now he kept glancing carefully at the jury, watching them with lightning glances, and gathering al

uestion had really the note of a casual inquiry-

't thi

from its directness-though that was patent enough,-

eatening, staccato voice:

n otherwise. It showed no apprehensi

a-he was smoking, I

t during most of this time he wa

p, their pencils poised, t

d of me," Mrs. A

ely in lov

hesitation. "I think h

ws of a hammer upon a nail: "Have you any dou

old m

you knew it, and had

nt note which had crept into the great barr

oined. The battle, which had been an affai

told me." The voice w

you? The night you were in P

esident leant forward to be sure t

edder than ever. His eyes blinked as if the lids could

that? Please b

at was the

the President, and then to Peggy-"I suggest to you, Mrs. Admast

ntense silence

ent ways. There were men who struggled to give no indication of their feelings, and m

months that he wa

and know?" echoed

o," was the

to go away, even in the company of friends, with a man who had b

und came from the witness-box-the

side, his blood-hound face, his extremely vivid eyes, fixed upon P

oped into something like a faded flower. She s

f commiseration-without prejudice one way or the other, nevertheless

and knew how fond of m

quiver in his voice-"if he had known, don't you think, Mrs. Admaston,

tence was wrung fr

not have liked it," she

s voice. All along the line he wa

m, that you were treating your husband fairly in en

ing, and extremely weary, "I did no

nd yourself sitting up in a strange hotel into the small hour

e court. Once more the person

too far by this time for

rthur j

. "My lord," he barked, "I protest

udge looked down upon him. "Sir Robert is within his rights, Mr. M'Ar

to the President. "Too good reason, my lord! My duty is not a pleasant one.... Was this the first time, Mrs. Ad

sture and clutched the rail of the witness-box. "My lord!" she s

zed at her with

was not there to be influenced by emotions, or

there t

Robert, Mrs. Admast

metimes at Lord Ellerdine'

ll over the court. S

solicitor in front of him, said someth

d Ellerdine's pl

es

e you las

ar ago," Pe

About a y

ly a

Collingwood was sitting up in your room into the sma

on said not

?" the insisten

Sir Robert," was t

id Lord Ell

N

r husban

N

ss perfectly genuine. He had met the woman he was cross-examining in society. He had liked her.

and his wife-he was becoming genuinely indigna

harmless things which you didn't care

nd in answer to the colder note in Sir

een making passionate love to you for months before the trip to Paris. We are getting at the trut

on two or three occasion

he first time he decla

he firs

are s

te s

re with him-but you were careful n

ted me. I never

rtish, clean-shaved gentleman who in private life was a c

sincerity in the witness's voice whi

ust?" Sir Robert said-perhaps mo

ect! I don't deny that I

very ill with the weighty, measure

g note in the cour

with a little nod of his head-"and encouraged this

defiant, "my husband trusted me, an

talk to him upon the night of the 23rd March, and why di

Sir Robert's voice, and almost every pers

lders, as if the question was of no great moment. "I was a fool. The others thought the thing much worse

for a moment, and then deci

rust was delivered. It was delivered with such apparent suavity and innocence, with such a

r husband everything about your harmless flirtations-your pecc

ied eagerly; "tha

is society, and the methods you have adopted to blind your husband to the progress of this innocent friendship, would have good ground for supposing

swered; "but whatever any one

instructed to register it all through to St. Moritz, your luggage and Mr. Collingwood's was not registered-an accident which enabled you to take it on with you upon the Paris train, which you only entered by accident. By accident, Mr. Collingwood see

accentuated speech had its effect upon the jury. Peggy herself recognised artifice. When there had been

o," she answer

e to the witness. He was, as all great counsel are, a psychologist of the first order. He responded instantly, and in this duel

d planned this trip to Paris-that he took the rooms with your knowledge-that you both mis

lied, "that all these sugge

utely

h her own certainty of her innocence. "There's not a rag of truth in any of them. You may think you c

rom the judge-two words:

p, but hardl

he degrading work which seems

sident said again, "you

Mrs. Admaston had not been a millionairess in her own right and the wife of a prominent Cabinet Minister. And it is sure also that, under such circums

orrent of half hysterical, wholly indig

aid, I don't know what I shall say before this torture is completed; but I am sensible enough to know that I have no chance in all this farrago of horrible insinuation whic

arently unmoved by this tirade, "I must as

the President said kindly to Peggy,

ut before her. She summoned up all her co

ert, "in saying that your trip to

ly I do," s

ooked toward

" he said, "which Mr. Admaston identi

y Miss Admaston-Mr. Admaston's aunt,-was it not, and produced b

will allow the witness

he said, "I submit again that not

"But at present Sir Robert is not suggesting that it is evi

stmark shows that it was collected at 10.30 a.m. Now, you persist in saying that at the time that le

dy said so,"

you say

do," she an

on-is it not? And Mr. Admaston has sworn that she brought it to him to the House of

ltogether approves o

e information contained in that letter which determi

, I

uld possibly have known that you were going to spen

se they

eved your husband when he says that that letter was in his hands

ly," Peggy said, and there was

the handwriting?

seen it before

't want to interrupt you, Sir Robert," he sa

t replied. "I am really

curious," sa

ng the case on behalf of Miss Admaston, informs me that he has had it submitted to

y person however remotely connected wi

compared with Mrs. A

Mr. Collingwood's?"

r. Collingwood's too, my lord-thoug

eggy. "And can't you help us,

the envelope,"

writing," the judge observe

id, "remember that that letter was in the hands of your husband just af

t l

ead it to

an to read it. All the spectators, those engaged in the case, and several members of the jury knew that the dr

rmur of sound. She cried out loudly, sharply, as if in pain, while the judge and jury rega

ed desperately to the President. "Oh!

tion at all Sir Ro

in your statement that your trip to

-this letter-it is a trap-it

d very sternly; "can you still keep u

place. "My lord, I protest!" he said, in

een look as he subside

y to-morrow," the judge said

read that letter--

"My lord," he said, "the jury

M'Arthur and Mr. Men

lord," Mr. M'Arthur answered, while Mr. Menzies said th

. "I think you are right," he s

he bench, and, adjusting his pince-

ton long before Mrs. Admaston and her friends reached Folkestone-let alone Boulogne. The letter is dated March 23rd, and it is unsigned. Now, gentlemen, an anonymous letter is open to grave suspicion, but in the peculiar circumstances of this case the fact of its being anon

get separated from Lord Ellerdine and Lady Attwill at Boulogne and to stay the night together at t

ere any other letters in this strange

d, three days ago,

to see it," sai

nded up to him, and he r

king his head. "I think, gentlemen, that

s, and save an old servant who honours th

ter; then he took up an ivory reading-glass and

, "in my view that this letter has

with his handwriting expert. "I am instructed that ther

ee that blotting-paper,"

Mrs. Admaston, having read this letter, do you still dare to repeat that until you had the misfortune

id not

r upon the judge's desk

iting for an answer," Sir Ro

I give?" the tortur

no mercy now. "The truth, m

uth you want. It's me-my very soul-that's what you want! Not to wring

mpassionately, but with emphasis, "the

trap-a trap, I say! I have been hunted and hounded into it. I am not surprised now that innocent women in

upon an answer," Sir R

ed again, wringing her hands w

maston, let me advise y

tru

"-his voice sank and became deeply impressive; "that at the very moment in which yo

!" she said

several times before it w

, bu

you that even then you were in your lo

" Peggy answe

time, I press for an answer. Do you s

nce. Desperate as she was, the hot words

rible place? I have never loved him. I have been foolish-I have played with fire-I have loved his admiration. I did not know that the law-man's law-made no difference between the opportunity to do wrong and the wrong itself. I know now. Some day men who know women will make other laws-some of us must have our lives broken first. In the face of that le

" said the President, and the

before him on his desk and

to the loud murmurs of subdued conversation as the judge

hair, almost stumbled down the steps of the witness-box. Mr. M'Arthur and her solicitor-a little confused knot of people, indeed-hastened u

ne of indescrib

fallen, and people looked at each

tant, as the weeping woman w

han ever, mingled with the s