He remained with Sir Thomas that day for hours. The long winter evening had begun to make itself felt by its increasing gloom before he left him. Wine and biscuits were sent in to them, but neither of them even noticed the man who brought them. Twice in the day, however, Mr. Prendergast gave the baronet a glass of sherry, which the latter swallowed unconsciously; and then, at about four, the lawyer prepared to take his leave. "I will see you early to-morrow," said he, "immediately after breakfast." "You are going then?" said Sir Thomas, who greatly dreaded being left alone. "Not away, you know," said Mr. Prendergast. "I am not going to leave the house." "No," said Sir Thomas; "no, of course not, but--" and then he paused. "Eh!" said Mr. Prendergast, "you were saying something." "They will be coming in to me now," said Sir Thomas, wailing like a child; "now, when you are gone; and what am I to say to them?" "I would say nothing at present; nothing to-day." "And my wife?" he asked, again. Through this interview he studiously called her his wife. "Is--is she to know it?" "When we are assured that this man's story is true, Sir Thomas, she must know it. That will probably be very soon,--in a day or two. Till then I think you had better tell her nothing." "And what shall I say to her?" "Say nothing. I think it probable that she will not ask any questions. If she does, tell her that the business between you and me is not yet over. I will tell your son that at present he had better not speak to you on the subject of my visit here." And then he again took the hand of the unfortunate gentleman, and having pressed it with more tenderness than seemed to belong to him, he left the room. He left the room, and hurried into the hall and out of the house; but as he did so he could see that he was watched by Lady Fitzgerald. She was on the alert to go to her husband as soon as she should know that he was alone. Of what then took place between those two we need say nothing, but will wander forth for a while with Mr. Prendergast into the wide-spreading park. Mr. Prendergast had been used to hard work all his life, but he had never undergone a day of severer toil than that through which he had just past. Nor was it yet over. He had laid it down in a broad way as his opinion that the whole truth in this matter should be declared to the world, let the consequences be what they might; and to this opinion Sir Thomas had acceded without a word of expostulation. But in this was by no means included all that portion of the burden which now fell upon Mr. Prendergast's shoulders. It would be for him to look into the evidence, and then it would be for him also--heavy and worst task of all--to break the matter to Lady Fitzgerald.