Vane nodded. "Quite right. What's the use of a pal if he doesn't rise to the occasion. After all, if Madame Alpenny does speak to the police she can't prove you to be guilty. You had no motive to murder this Evans. He was quite a stranger to you." "Quite. All the same----" "All the same, hold your confounded tongue!" insisted the barrister. "My advice to you is to sit tight and wait events." "Madame Alpenny?" "Exactly. If she is the old adventuress you think she is, and which from your description she certainly appears to be, I don't think you need have any fear for the moment." "Why not?" "Because she will wait until you are in possession of those papers on your twenty-fifth birthday. If they place you in possession of money she will be silent on condition that you marry her daughter." "I won't. Nothing would induce me to marry a girl who loves another man." "Oh, I don't say that you would marry her, but that Madame Alpenny would try and make you marry her. Until all hope fails in that direction she'll say nothing about the advertisement. Of course, if there is no money the old hag will split, especially if there is a reward. As this Squire Evans seems to be a landowner and a rich man, I expect there will be a reward." "I see. Then the best thing for me to do is to wait." "Exactly. I'll support you, and you can talk your heart out to me." "You're a good fellow, Jim. Why, I half believed you would think me----" "Don't talk bosh!" Vane jumped up irritably. "Why, you're the whitest man I know, and my old school-pal. I'd as soon believe myself guilty as you. Now I'm off to bed; go thou and do likewise and don't worry." After which speech he shook hands with Hench and the two parted for the night.