but the special risk connected with the office had never
occurred to me until the present moment. It was too late now to repair
this unfortunate error in judgment--too late to wish that I had made
arrangements for meeting the lawyer in some place privately appointed
beforehand. I could only resolve to be cautious on leaving Chancery
Lane, and not to go straight home again under any circumstances
whatever.

After waiting a few minutes I was shown into Mr. Kyrle's private room.
He was a pale, thin, quiet, self-possessed man, with a very attentive
eye, a very low voice, and a very undemonstrative manner--not (as I
judged) ready with his sympathy where strangers were concerned, and not
at all easy to disturb in his professional composure. A better man for
my purpose could hardly have been found. If he committed himself to a
decision at all, and if the decision was favourable, the strength of
our case was as good as proved from that moment.

"Before I enter on the business which brings me here," I said, "I ought
to warn you, Mr. Kyrle, that the shortest statement I can make of it
may occupy some little time."

"My time is at Miss Halcombe's disposal," he replied. "Where any
interests of hers are concerned, I represent my partner personally, as
well as professionally. It was his request that I should do so, when
he ceased to take an active part in business."

"May I inquire whether Mr. Gilmore is in England?"

"He is not, he is living with his relatives in Germany. His health has
improved, but the period of his return is still uncertain."

While we were exchanging these few preliminary words, he had been
searching among the papers before him, and he now produced from them a
sealed letter. I thought he was about to hand the letter to me, but,
apparently changing his mind, he placed it by itself on the table,
settled himself in his chair, and silently waited to hear what I had to
say.

Without wasting a moment in prefatory words of any sort, I entered on
my narrative, and put him in full possession of the events which have
already been related in these pages.

Lawyer as he was to the very marrow of his bones, I startled him out of
his professional composure. Expressions of incredulity and surprise,
which he could not repress, interrupted me several times before I had
done. I persevered, however, to the end, and as soon as I reached it,
boldly asked the one important question--

"What is your opinion, Mr. K