Share with him whatever he might be able to get out of you."

"The man would never accuse himself of bigamy for that. Besides, you
should have seen the women, Die."

"Seen the women! Tsh--tsh--tsh; I have seen enough of them, young and
old, to know that a clean apron and a humble tone and a down-turned
eye don't always go with a true tongue and an honest heart. Women are
now the most successful swindlers of the age! That profession at any
rate is not closed against them."

"You will not find these women to be swindlers; at least I think
not."

"Ah! but we want to be sure, Prendergast;" and then Mr. Die finished
the letter, very leisurely, as Herbert thought.

When he had finished it, he folded it up and gave it back to Mr.
Prendergast. "I don't think but what you've a strong prima facie
case; so strong that perhaps you are right to explain the whole
matter to our young friend here, who is so deeply concerned in it.
But at the same time I should caution him that the matter is still
enveloped in doubt."

Herbert eagerly put out his hand for the letter. "You may trust me
with it," said he: "I am not of a sanguine temperament, nor easily
excited; and you may be sure that I will not take it for more than it
is worth." So saying, he at last got hold of the letter, and managed
to read it through much more quickly than Mr. Die had done. As he did
so he became very red in the face, and too plainly showed that he had
made a false boast in speaking of the coolness of his temperament.
Indeed, the stakes were so high that it was difficult for a young man
to be cool while he was playing the game: he had made up his mind to
lose, and to that he had been reconciled; but now again every pulse
of his heart and every nerve of his body was disturbed. "Was never
his wife," he said out loud when he got to that part of the letter.
"His real wife living now in Spinny Lane! Do you believe that Mr.
Prendergast?"

"Yes, I do," said the attorney.

"Lente, lente, lente," said the barrister, quite oppressed by his
friend's unprofessional abruptness.

"But I do believe it," said Mr. Prendergast: "you must always
understand, Herbert, that this new story may possibly not be true--"

"Quite possible," said Mr. Die, with something almost approaching to
a slight laugh.

"But the evidence is so strong," continued the other, "that I do
believe it heartily. I have been to that house, and seen the man, old
Mollett, and the woman whom I believe