"Last night my opponent was forced to admit that nearly thirty years ago he suffered a term of penal servitude.

The shock, after years of reparation, of spotless life, spent in the service of God and his fellow-creatures, has killed him.

I desire publicly to proclaim that I, as his opponent, had no share in the dastardly blow that has struck him down.

And I desire to proclaim the reason.

He is my own father; I, Paul Savelli, am my opponent, Silas Finn's son." A great gasp and murmur rose from the wonder-stricken throng, but only momentarily, for the spell of drama was on them.