Page:Crofts - The Cask.djvu/286

270 lawyer's growing belief in the artist's innocciice, it was of very little use for the trial. It was true that he, Clifford, was now in a position to prove most of Fehx's statement, but the worst of it was that most of Felix's statement might be proved without proving Felix's innocence. So much so, indeed, that CUfford could not yet quite banish the suspicion that the whole thing was pre-arranged. He questioned Mr Bonchose exhaustively, but without learning anything fresh. His visitor had not seen the artist on the Wednesday or Thursday, and could not help towards the alibi. Finding that nothing was to be gained by further conversation, Clifford bowed the young man out, having promised to let him know how things progressed.