place,
this was a matter on which it was very hard to speak to the man
implicated, let him be who he would. Mr. Robarts had come round to
the generally accepted idea that Mr. Crawley had obtained possession
of the cheque illegally,--acquitting his friend in his own mind
of theft, simply by supposing that he was wool-gathering when the
cheque came in his way. But in speaking to Mr. Crawley, it would be
necessary,--so he thought,--to pretend a conviction that Mr. Crawley
was as innocent in fact as in intention.

He had almost made up his mind to dash at the subject when he met Mr
Crawley walking through Framley to Barchester, but he had abstained,
chiefly because Mr. Crawley had been too quick for him, and had got
away. After that he resolved that it would be almost useless for
him to go to work unless he should be provided with a lawyer ready
and willing to undertake the task; and as he was not so provided at
present, he made up his mind that he would go into Silverbridge, and
see Mr. Walker, the attorney there. Mr. Walker always advised everybody
in those parts about everything, and would be sure to know what would
be the proper thing to be done in this case. So Mr. Robarts got into
his gig, and drove himself into Silverbridge, passing very close
to Mr. Crawley's house on his road. He drove at once to Mr. Walker's
office, and on arriving there found that the attorney was not at that
moment within. But Mr. Winthrop was within. Would Mr. Robarts see Mr
Winthrop? Now, seeing Mr. Winthrop was a very different thing from
seeing Mr. Walker, although the two gentlemen were partners. But still
Mr. Robarts said that he would see Mr. Winthrop. Perhaps Mr. Walker
might return while he was there.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Mr. Robarts?" asked Mr. Winthrop.
Mr. Robarts said that he had wished to see Mr. Walker about that poor
fellow Crawley. "Ah, yes; very said case! So much sadder being a
clergyman, Mr. Robarts. We are really quite sorry for him;--we are
indeed. We wouldn't have touched the case ourselves if we could have
helped ourselves. We wouldn't indeed. But we are obliged to take all
that business here. At any rate he'll get nothing but fair usage from
us."

"I am sure of that. You don't know whether he has employed any lawyer
as yet to defend him?"

"I can't say. We don't know, you know. I should say he had,--probably
some Barchester attorney. Borleys and Bonstock in Barchester are very
good people,--very go