"Yes, I was reading it, as I suppose everybody is.

But I disagree with you about the verdict." The young widow's manner was as downright as her words.

There was a sudden raising of the bushy eyebrows in the opposite corner, a brief opening of the black eyes underneath.
"Pardon me," said the gentleman, breaking into a smile; "I was not aware that I had expressed an opinion on that point." "I understood you were amazed," said Rachel, dryly.
"And are not you ?" cried the other point-blank.

"Do you mean to tell me that you were prepared for an acquittal ?" "I was prepared for anything," replied Rachel, returning a peculiarly penetrating stare with one at least as steady, and yet holding her breath for very fear lest this stranger had found her out, until his next words allayed the suspicion.
"Madam, have you followed the case ?" "Indeed I have," sighed honest Rachel.
"And as a woman you believe this woman innocent ?" "I do." It was hard enough to say no more than that; but Rachel was very fresh from her great lesson in self-control.
"It is easy to see that you do not," she merely permitted herself to add.
"On the contrary," said he, with great precision; "on the contrary, my dear madam, I believe this poor lady to be as innocent as yourself." Again their eyes were locked; again Rachel drew the only inference from so pointed a pronouncement, and yet again was the impression shaken by her companion's next words.
"But I really have no right to an opinion," said he; "since, unlike you, I cannot claim to have read the case.

Nor is that the interesting thing now." The stations had come and gone, until now they were at Victoria.
The speaker looked out of the window, until they were off again, and off by themselves as before.