But--but that is neither here
nor there. I have come here to deliver him up to you as a prisoner--"
"As a prisoner!" echoed the coroner; and he and all looked amazed at
this strange announcement.
"Why should it surprise you? It is a simple act of justice. I have
reason to think that my son knows something about this murder" (here the
old gentleman's voice faltered); "and my duty, as a good citizen and an
honest man, requires me to surrender him. There are other affairs of a
private nature between myself and my son--he knows to what I refer
--which I am not prepared to make public at the present time." The old
gentleman looked significantly at his son, who smiled calmly at him
in return.
A chair was brought for Mr. Van Quintem, sen., and he sank into it. The
young man seated himself in another chair which was handed to him by the
attentive coroner himself.
"Now, Myndert, my good fellow," said the coroner, "if yer knows anything
about this affair, fire away."
"Will the coroner be good enough to swear the witness?" asked Fayette
Overtop.
"Oh! I'd quite forgot it.
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