e, because Alan is going to
stand at the next election."

"What on earth good would Alan be in Parliament?" Michael asked
derisively. "He's much too happy."

"Michael, why are you so horrid about Alan nowadays?"

He was penitent in a moment at the suggestion, but when he said
good-bye to Stella he had a curious feeling that from henceforth he was
going to be stronger than her.

On reaching London, Michael went to see Castleton at the Temple, and he
found him in chambers at the top of dusty stairs in King's Beach Walk.

"Lucky to get these, wasn't I?" said Castleton. By craning out of the
window, the river was visible.

"I suppose you've never had a murder case yet?" Michael asked.

"Not yet," said Castleton. "In fact, I'm going in for Chancery work. And
I shall get my first brief in about five years, with luck."

Michael inquired how one went to work to retain the greatest criminal
advocate of the day, and Castleton said he would have to be approached
through a solicitor.

"Well, will you get hold of him for me?"

Castleton looked rather blank.

"If you can't get him, get the next best, and so on. Tell him the man I
want to defend hasn't a chance, and that's why I'm particularly anxious
he should get off."

They discussed details for some time, and Castleton was astonished at
Michael's wish to aid Meats.

"It seems very perverse," he said.

"Perverse!" Michael echoed. "And what about your profession? That is
really the most perverse factor in modern life."

"But in this case," Castleton argued, "the victim seems so utterly
worthless."

"Exactly," said Michael. "But as society never interfered when he was
passively offensive, why, the moment he becomes actively offensive,
should society have the right to put him out of the way? They never
tried to cure him for his own good. Why should they kill him for their
own?"

"You want to strike at the foundations of the legal system," said the
barrister.

"Exactly," Michael agreed; and the argument came to an end because there
was obviously nothing more to be said.

Castleton promises to do all he could for Meats, and also to keep
Michael's name out of the business. As Michael walked down the stairs,
it gave him a splendid satisfaction to think how already the law was
being set in motion against the law. A blow for Inspector Dawkins. And
what about the murdered girl? "She won't be helped by Meats' death,"
said Michael to himself. "Society is not consideri