look upon it as something that was utterly illegal, and that I could
never be expected to stand by what was only, after all, a mere farcical
thing, the act of a madcap boy."

The judge wiped the perspiration from his brow before going on again.
It was evident that he was suffering greatly. It seemed as though he
had not yet reached that point of his story which was more difficult to
tell than any other, still, he plodded on his weary way, although the
words came with difficulty.

"In two years' time we returned from abroad. By this time I was
accustomed to the name of 'Bolitho.' Steps had been taken to make it
legal, and I had to a very large extent forgotten my former name. I
was Mr. Bolitho's adopted son, and I called him 'father.' During the
years we had been away together, too, his influence upon me had grown
stronger. I was afraid to do anything in opposition to his will. His
resolute, imperious nature made me almost like an obedient slave, and
not only that, I loved him too. I knew I owed everything to him, and
he was almost uniformly kind to me. Thus, while I feared him, my fear
was mingled with filial love.

"When we returned to England I started in earnest with my law studies.
I had not altogether neglected them while I had been away, and so I
went to London for my dinners, and in due time was called to the Bar,
with, it was said, a great deal of distinction. By this time my
experiences in Scotland became, to my shame, almost a shadowy memory to
me. I cared for no other woman, and there were times, too, when I
dreamed of Jean, and thought of her fondly, but only rarely. The
Scotch episode was but an episode. One thing gladdened me, Mary
Tregony seemed to care nothing for me, and in spite of Mr. Bolitho's
persuasions, there were no definite arrangements made about our
marriage. Presently, however, after I had been practising some time,
and had obtained a modicum of success, indeed, a success great enough
to promise well for the future, my adopted father wrote to me saying
that Mary had at length consented to our wedding. It was at this time
that I began to be afraid. What I had laughed at in my heart as the
Scotch episode, became real. I remember, too, that at that time I was
engaged in a bigamy trial, and I remember the terms which the judge
used concerning the man who was found guilty. Yet here was I, who had
acted as junior counsel for the prosecution of this man, contemplating
taking a