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 'I fear not. Round would not go on with it if that were not all true.'

'It depends on those two witnesses, Furnival. I remember the case of old, though it was twenty years ago, and I had nothing to do with it. I remember thinking that Lady Mason was a very clever woman, and that Round and Crook were rather slow.'

'He's a brute; is that fellow, Mason of Groby Park.'

'A brute; is he? We'll get him into the box and make him say as much for himself. She's uncommonly pretty, isn't she?'

'She is a pretty woman.'

'And interesting? It will all tell, you know. A widow with one son, isn't she?'

'Yes, and she has done her duty admirably since her husband's death. You will find too that she has the sympathies of all the best people in her neighbourhood. She is staying now at the house of Sir Peregrine Orme, who would do anything for her.'

'Anything, would he?'

'And the Staveleys know her. The judge is convinced of her innocence.'

'Is he? He'll probably have the Home Circuit in the summer. His conviction expressed from the bench would be more useful to her. You can make Staveley believe everything in a drawing-room or over a glass of wine; but I'll be hanged if I can ever get him to believe anything when he's on the bench.'

'But, Chaffanbrass, the countenance of such people will be of great use to her down there. Everybody will know that she's been staying with Sir Peregrine.'

'I've no doubt she's a clever woman.'

'But this new trouble has half killed her.'

'I don't wonder at that either. These sort of troubles do vex people. A pretty woman like that should have everything smooth; shouldn't she? Well, we'll do the best we can. You'll see that I'm properly instructed. By-the-by, who is her attorney? In such a case as that you couldn't have a better man than old Solomon Aram. But Solomon Aram is too far east from you, I suppose?'

'Isn't he a Jew?'

'Upon my word I don't know. He's an attorney, and that's enough for me.'

And then the matter was again discussed between them, and it was agreed that a third counsel would be wanting. 'Felix Graham is very much interested in the case,' said Mr. Furnival, 'and is as firmly convinced of her innocence as—as I am.' And he managed to look his ally in the face and to keep his countenance firmly.

'Ah,' said Mr. Chaffanbrass. 'But what if he should happen to change his opinion about his own client?'

'We could prevent that, I think.'