She was dressed i' furs and all
that sort of thing."

"I see," said the judge. "Thank you very much."

He returned to the hotel, and began studying a timetable.

"Yes, I think I understand," he said to himself.

CHAPTER XXV

MR. JUSTICE BRANSCOMBE

For some days after Judge Bolitho had made his confession in court no
further steps were taken in the trial of Paul. Another judge had to
sit upon the case, and this meant delay. What took place in certain
judicial circles I have no knowledge. It is for me simply to relate
what actually resulted. Undoubtedly, the judge's unprecedented
confession caused some stir in the realms of legal authority. Many
forms had doubtless to be complied with, and, as a consequence, Paul
had to wait one weary day after another without anything publicly
taking place and without any knowledge of what was being done.

During this time not one of the three people whom he expected again
came to see him. After the interview which I have tried to describe in
the last chapter the judge, in spite of what he had said, failed to
seek admission again to Paul's cell. As for Mary Bolitho or his
mother, he had no knowledge concerning them. No word was sent to him,
and as a consequence day succeeded day in the dull, dreary monotony of
a Lancashire prison.

Not that he was without visitors. Two lawyers who had been friends of
his came to see him, and each tried to change his mind in relation to
the conduct of his own defence. They felt sure, they said, that they
could do better for him than he had done for himself, and each pleaded
with him to allow them to prepare his case and to place it in the hands
of some leading counsel. But Paul persistently refused. He knew that
if he trusted in them he must state certain facts which, although they
might release him, would throw suspicion of the strongest nature upon
his mother. He wanted to live in spite of everything. But even
although the worst came to the worst, he would rather suffer the
extreme penalty of the deed of which he was accused than that the
mother who had suffered all for him and done all for him should be
dragged before the eyes of the world as it had been his lot to be. The
interviews with these lawyers were long and trying, and while he did
not yield to them in the slightest degree, they were not without
advantage to him. They helped him to arrange his plans with more
clearness, and they let drop many hints which he f