Insteadofdirectlyreplying，heseizedmyarmandledmetothetable。\"Takeupthatpaper，\"hesaid。\"Thereiswritingonit。
Read——andletHerjudgebetweenus。Yourlifedependsonhowyouanswerme。\"
Wasthereaweaponconcealedintheroom？orhadhegotitinthepocketofhisdressing—gown？Ilistenedforthesoundofthedoctor’sreturningfootstepsinthepassageoutside，andheardnothing。Mylifehadoncedepended，yearssince，onmysuccessinheadingthearrestofanescapedprisoner。Iwasnotconscious，then，offeelingmyenergiesweakenedbyfear。But_that_manwasnotmad；andIwasyounger，inthosedays，byagoodtwentyyearsormore。Atmylatertimeoflife，IcouldshowmyoldfriendthatIwasnotafraidofhim——butIwasconsciousofaneffortindoingit。
Iopenedthepaper。\"AmItoreadthistomyself？\"Iasked。\"OramItoreaditaloud？\"
\"Readitaloud！\"