“You are going a little fast, my young friend, are you not? Is it wholly necessary that you should see the accused? Is it wholly to her interest or to yours?” “Wholly, I assure you.” “Well, before we get as far as that, I am particularly curious to know what line you have decided to take. Is it too much to ask that you have decided not to adhere to the acquittal? Speaking for myself, I must confess that the more consideration I give to the question, the less do I like that idea. Tobin would certainly have taken the line of insanity.” “Last night you were good enough to inform me of that.” “Well, my young friend, what is good enough for Tobin should be good enough for you.” “That also you were good enough to inform me of last evening. But, my dear fellow, pray do not let us go over this ground again. Unfortunately Tobin and myself do not inhabit quite the same intellectual plane.” “Unfortunately that appears to be the case,” said the solicitor. “Tobin’s is the lower,” said the young man blandly. “Tobin will be glad to know that.” “I hope he may. After to-morrow he will be the first to admit it. But once more I crave to be allowed to conduct this case in my own way. I can listen to none; so be a good fellow, put on your hat, and come along to see the lady.” “Well, I must say that for a youngster who is asked for the first time to conduct the defence in a capital charge you don’t lack confidence in yourself.” “If I did I should not be holding the brief.” “There is something in that. And in any case you will have to have your way now. It is too late in the day to stand up against you.” Mr. Whitcomb pressed his bell and a clerk appeared. “I want permission to interview Emma Harrison. Will you ring up the prison and see if you can get the governor to give it?” The clerk withdrew. “They are not likely to refuse it?” said Northcote. “They ought not to be,” said Mr. Whitcomb, “but when you are confronted with Mr. Bumble in any shape or form, your motto must always be, ‘You never can tell.’” “Arbitrary brute,” said the young man with vehemence, “I hate him altogether.” “I also; but one should always do him the justice of conceding that he has arduous duties to perform.” “Presumably that is the reason why he aggravates difficulties of those who are called to help him in performing them.” “Is not that what we agree to call ‘human nature’? But really I think it is the duty of every citizen to think of him tenderly. He means well. He is not a bad fellow at bottom.” “I have no patience,” said the young man truculently. “Mean well!--not a bad fellow at bottom! Why, he and his satellites are the custodians of the life and liberties of the whole population. One wonders how many innocent lives have been sworn away by this fat-witted blunderer who is barely able to write his own name.” “You are too strong, my son. His responsibilities are immense; the wonder is that he plays up to them in the manner that he does.”