But he was painfully conscious of what now seemed to him a monstrous situation! Here was, he believed, the actual accomplice of the road agents calmly receiving the complacent and puerile confessions of the men who were seeking to outwit them.

Could he, in ordinary justice to them, to himself, or the mission he conceived he was pursuing, refrain from exposing her, or warning them privately?
But was he certain?
Was a vague remembrance of a profile momentarily seen--and, as he must even now admit, inconsistent with the full face he was gazing at--sufficient for such an accusation?
More than that, was the protection she had apparently afforded the lawyer consistent with the function of an accomplice! "Then if the danger's over," said the lady gently, reaching down to draw her satchel from under the seat, "I suppose I may return it to you." "By no means! Don't trouble yourself! Pray allow me to still remain your debtor,--at least as far as the next station," said the lawyer gallantly.
The lady uttered a languid sigh, sank back in her seat, and calmly settled herself to the perusal of her book.

Key felt his cheeks beginning to burn with the embarrassment and shame of his evident misconception.

And here he was on his way to Marysville, to follow a woman for whom he felt he no longer cared, and for whose pursuit he had no longer the excuse of justice.
"Then I understand that you have twice seen these road agents," said the professional man, turning to the miner.

"Of course, you could be able to identify them ?" "Nary a man! You see they're all masked, and only one of 'em ever speaks." "The leader or chief ?" "No, the orator." "The orator ?" repeated the professional man in amazement.
"Well, you see, I call him the orator, for he's mighty glib with his tongue, and reels off all he has to say like as if he had it by heart.
He's mighty rough on you, too, sometimes, for all his high-toned style.
Ef he thinks a man is hidin' anything he jest scalps him with his tongue, and blamed if I don't think he likes the chance of doin' it.
He's got a regular set speech, and he's bound to go through it all, even if he makes everything wait, and runs the risk of capture.