Tell me, Frederic, and tell me truly, do you
believe me guilty?"
"I have never for one moment entertained a thought to that effect,
Anthony; though the whole world should condemn you, I would stake my
salvation on your integrity."
"Bless you, my friend; my true, faithful, noble-hearted friend," cried
Anthony, clasping the hand he held to his breast, "you are right; I am
not the murderer."
"Who is?"
Anthony shook his head.
"That infernal scoundrel, Mathews?"
"Hush! Not him alone."
"Godfrey?"
"Oh! Frederic; had you seen the triumphant smile that passed over his
face at the moment that my sentence was pronounced, you could entertain
no doubt upon the subject. I heard not the sentence--I saw not the
multitude of eyes fixed upon me--I only saw him--I only saw his eyes
looking into my soul and laughing at the ruin he had wrought. But he
will not go unpunished. There is one who will yet betray him, and prove
my innocence; I mean his hateful accomplice, William Mathews."
"And can nothing be done to convict them?"
"They have sworn falsely, and perverted facts. I have no proof of their
guilt. Would the world believe my statements? Would it not appear like
the wolf accusing the lamb? For my poor uncle's sake I am ready to
suffer; and for this cause I employed no counsel to plead on my behalf;
I would rather die myself than be the means of bringing to the scaffold
the only son that he adored.
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