rings it into use some considerable time after
it is drawn; and the additional fact that the drawer of the cheque
had lost it, as he thought, in Mr. Crawley's house, and had looked for
it there, soon after it was drawn, and long before it was paid. A
jury must judge; but, as a lawyer, I should say that the burden of
disproof lies with Mr. Crawley."

"Did you find out anything, Mr. Walker," said Toogood, "about the man
who drove Mr. Soames that day?"

"No,--nothing."

"The trap was from 'The Dragon' at Barchester, I think?"

"Yes,--from 'The Dragon of Wantly'."

"A respectable sort of house?"

"Pretty well for that, I believe. I've heard that the people are
poor," said Walker.

"Somebody told me that they'd had a queer lot about the house, and
that three or four of them left just then. I think I heard that two
or three men from the place went to New Zealand together. It just
came out in conversation while I was in the inn-yard."

"I have never heard anything of it," said Walker.

"I don't say that it can help us."

"I don't see that it can," said Mr. Walker.

After that there was a pause, and Mr. Toogood pushed about the old
port, and made some very stinging remarks as to the claret-drinking
propensities of the age. "Gladstone claret the most of it is, I
fancy," said Mr. Toogood. "I find that port wine which my father
bought in the wood five-and-twenty years ago is good enough for me."
Mr. Walker said that it was quite good enough for him, almost too
good, and that he thought that he had had enough of it. The host
threatened another bottle, and was up to draw the cork,--rather to
the satisfaction of John Eames, who liked his uncle's port,--but Mr
Walker stopped him. "Not a drop more for me," he said. "You are quite
sure?" "Quite sure." And Mr. Walker moved towards the door.

"It's a great pity, Mr. Walker," said Toogood, going back to the old
subject, "that the dean and his wife should be away."

"I understand that they will both be home before the trial," said Mr
Walker.

"Yes,--but you know how very important it is to learn beforehand
exactly what your witnesses can prove and what they can't prove. And
moreover, though neither the dean nor his wife might perhaps be able
to tell us anything themselves, they might help to put us on the
proper scent. I think I'll send somebody after them. I think I will."

"It would be a heavy expense, Mr. Toogood."

"Yes," said Toogood, mournfully, thinking of the tw