n who, not long
before, had been Member of Parliament for that town.

"She's very ill," said the doctor.

"But she will not die, will she?"

"Of course, that's impossible to say. She's a strong woman, but she's
had--well, you know what she's had to bear."

The judge nodded. "But will she get better?"

"I do not think she will die just yet."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think it is possible her body may recover."

"But her mind?" said the judge, noting the significance of the doctor's
words.

"Concerning her mind I can promise nothing," said the doctor. "The
strain she has borne for so long has been enough to drive one of her
sensitive nature mad."

The judge was silent for a few seconds, then he spoke in his old,
almost authoritative tones.

"Let nothing be left undone, doctor," he said. "Engage any help you
think may be of value to you. You know the best man in your
profession. Get into communication with him at once. We must fight,
man; we must fight!"

There was a ring of defiance in his voice, and even then Mary thought
how different he was from the preceding night, when she had parted from
him in Manchester.

"Have you made up your mind what to do, father?" she asked, when the
doctor had gone.

"Yes, I have. By the way, Mary, I know you must be longing to ask
questions about yourself, but----"

"Don't trouble about me now, father. I know what you are thinking of.
But my name, my future, are nothing compared with---- Oh, father, we
must save Paul!"

"If it is within the realm of human possibility we will, Mary."

"And you believe it is?"

"Give me three days," said the father, "and then perhaps I can tell
you."

CHAPTER XXX

THE TESTIMONY OF ARCHIE FEARN

"Father, have you discovered anything?"

"Nothing," and the judge shook his head despondently. "It seems as
though every road is a cul-de-sac. I have followed up hundreds of
clues, and they have all ended in nothing."

"You know what I believe, father?"

"I know, Mary; but you're wrong."

"But Paul never did it!" She seemed never to grow weary of making this
assertion. No matter how strong the evidence might be, no matter what
the world might say, nothing shook her.

"Branscombe thinks so."

"He has not told you, has he?"

"Oh, no. I have not said a word to him about the trial; but I've been
reading the evidence this evening--you know, the case came on again
this morning--and it's clear to me from hi