morning's
newspaper. She, too, had no present intention of unveiling her
surmise.

"Nonsense!" she said. "Folks don't happen on buried treasure in
Polpier; and you can't have a legacy without its getting into the
papers."

Mr Latter had no sooner departed than she put on her bonnet and paid
a call on her friend Miss Charity Oliver.

"If Mr Pamphlett were only a magistrate--" said Mrs Polsue, after
telling her story. "He was as good as promised it before the
Unionists went out of office, as his services to the party well
deserved. _This_ Government appoints none but its own creatures.
. . . And Squire Tresawna living three miles away--with the chance,
when you get there, of finding he's not at home--"

"You might send him a letter," suggested Miss Oliver.

"One has to be very careful what one puts down on paper," said Mrs
Polsue. "I don't want to compromise myself unnecessarily, even for
the sake of my country. A personal interview is always more
advisable . . . But, apart from the distance, I don't fancy the idea
of consulting the Squire. He dislikes hearing ill of anybody. Oh, I
quite agree!--If he takes that line, he has no business on the Bench.
What else is a magistrate _for?_"

"Well, dear, I don't know much about the law. But I've heard it laid
down as a rule that every man is supposed to be innocent until you
prove that he's guilty--"

"And I never could understand why," Mrs Polsue interjected; "seeing
that five out of every six persons charged are found guilty. To my
mind the law would be more sensible if it learnt by experience and
took some account of the odds."

"There's a good deal to be said for that, no doubt," Miss Oliver
agreed. "But the Squire--or any other magistrate, for that matter--
will look on the law as it stands; and if you are going to lay
information against Nicholas Nanjivell--"

"Who said I wanted to lay information? Why should any private person
undertake such unpleasantness, when it's the plain duty of the
police, and in fact what they're paid for."

"Then why not leave it to Rat-it-all?"

"I believe I will, after giving him a hint. . . . But you don't seem
to _see_, Charity Oliver!" her friend exploded. "What you are
arguing may do well enough for ordinary times. These are not
ordinary times. With all the newspapers declaring that our country
is riddled with German spies--positively riddled--"

"I don't believe the man's capable of it, even if he had the