se and go to the court.

"I told Uncle Biron I must be away from business to hear the
summing-up," he said. "I'll send a telegram to the office. Do you think
it will be all right for Mrs. Clarke?"

"She's innocent, but nobody can say. It depends so much on the
summing-up."

Dion glanced at Rosamund.

"You mustn't think I'm going to turn into an idler, Rose. This is a very
special occasion."

"I know. Mr. Daventry's first case."

"Haven't you followed it at all?" Daventry asked.

She shook her head.

"No, but I've been wished you well all the same."

When the two men got up to go, Dion said:

"Rosamund!"

"What is it?"

"If Mrs. Clarke wins and is completely exonerated, I think she would
like very much to make your acquaintance."

Rosamund looked surprised.

"What makes you think so?"

"Well, she said something to that effect the other day."

"She's a very interesting, clever woman," interposed Daventry, with
sudden warmth.

"I'm sure she is. We must see. It's very kind of her. Poor woman! What
dreadful anxiety she must be in to-day! You'll all be glad when it's
over."

When the two friends were out in the sunshine, walking towards the
Strand, Daventry said:

"Why is your wife against Mrs. Clarke?"

"She isn't. What makes you thinks so?"

"I'm quite sure she doesn't want to know her, even if she gets the
verdict."

"Well, of course all this sort of thing is--it's very far away from
Rosamund."

"You don't mean to say you doubt Mrs. Clarke?"

"No, but----"

"Surely if she's innocent she's as good as any other woman."

"I know, but----I suppose it's like this: there are different ways of
being good, and perhaps Mrs. Clarke's way isn't Rosamund's. In fact, we
know it isn't."

Daventry said nothing more on the subject; he began to discuss the case
in all its bearings, and presently dwelt upon the great power English
judges have over the decisions of juries.

"Mrs. Clarke gave her evidence splendidly on the whole," he said.
"And Hadi Bey made an excellent impression. My one fear is that fellow
Aristide Dumeny. You didn't hear him, but, of course, you read his
evidence. He was perfectly composed and as clever as he could be in the
box, but I'm sure, somehow, the jury were against him."

"Why?"

"I hardly know. It may be something in his personality."

"I believe he's a beast," said Dion.

"There!" exclaimed Daventry, wrinkling his forehead. "If the Judge
thinks as you do it may jus