r his chair, the poor man
hardly recognised his friend.

"I'm sure your husband won't forget me," said Mr. Robarts, the
clergyman at Framley, as he gave his hand to that lady across the
back of Mr. Crawley's chair.

"No, Mr. Robarts, he does not forget you. But you must excuse him if
at this moment he is not quite himself. It is a trying situation for
a clergyman."

"I can understand all that; but I'll tell you why I have come. I
suppose this inquiry will finish the whole affair, and clear up
whatever may be the difficulty. But should it not do so, it may be
just possible, Mrs. Crawley, that something may be said about bail. I
don't understand much about it, and I daresay you do not either; but
if there should be anything of that sort, let Mr. Crawley name me. A
brother clergyman will be best, and I'll have some other gentleman
with me." Then he left without waiting for any answer.

At the same time there was a conversation going on between Mr. Walker
and another attorney standing behind him, Mr. Mason. "I'll go to him,"
said Walker, "and try to arrange it." So Mr. Walker seated himself in
the empty chair beside Mr. Crawley, and endeavoured to explain to the
wretched man, that he would do well to allow Mr. Mason to assist him.
Mr. Crawley seemed to listen to all that was said, and then turned
upon the speaker sharply: "I will have no one to assist me," he said
so loudly that every one in the room heard the words. "I am innocent.
Why should I want assistance? Nor have I money to pay for it." Mr
Mason made a quick movement forward, intending to explain that that
consideration need offer no impediment, but was stopped by further
speech from Mr. Crawley. "I will have no one to help me," said he,
standing upright, and for the first time removing his hat from his
head. "Go on, and do what it is you have to do." After than he did
not sit down till the proceedings were nearly over, though he was
invited more than once by Lord Lufton to do so.

We need not go through all the evidence that was brought to bear upon
the question. It was proved that money for the cheque was paid to
Mr. Crawley's messenger, and that this money was given to Mr. Crawley.
When there occurred some little delay in the chain of evidence
necessary to show that Mr. Crawley had signed and sent the cheque and
got the money, he became impatient. "Why do you trouble the man?" he
said. "I had the cheque, and I sent him; I got the money. Has any one
denied