On the Tuesday, which had been left a vacant day as regarded the trial, there was a meeting,--like all other proceedings in this cause, very irregular in its nature,--at the chambers of the Solicitor-General, at which Serjeant Bluestone attended with Messrs. Hardy, Mainsail, Flick, and Goffe; and at this meeting, among other matters of business, mention was made of the debt due by the Countess to Daniel Thwaite. Of this debt the Solicitor-General had not as yet heard,--though he had heard of the devoted friendship of the old tailor. That support had been afforded to some extent,--that for a period the shelter of old Thwaite's roof had been lent to the Countess,--that the man had been generous and trusting, he did know. He had learned, of course, that thence had sprung that early familiarity which had enabled the younger Thwaite to make his engagement with Lady Anna. That something should be paid when the ladies came by their own he was aware. But the ladies were not his clients, and into the circumstances he had not inquired. Now he was astounded and almost scandalized by the amount of the debt. "Do you mean to say that he advanced £9,000 in hard cash?" said the Solicitor-General. "That includes interest at five per cent., Sir William, and also a small sum for bills paid by Thomas Thwaite on her behalf. She has had in actual cash about £7,000." "And where has it gone?" "A good deal of it through my hands," said Mr. Goffe boldly. "During two or three years she had no income at all, and during the last twenty years she has been at law for her rights. He advanced all the money when that trial for bigamy took place." "God bless my soul!" said Mr. Serjeant Bluestone. "Did he leave a will?" asked the Solicitor-General. "Oh, yes; a will which has been proved, and of which I have a copy. There was nothing else to leave but this debt, and that is left to the son." "It should certainly be paid without delay," said Mr. Hardy. Mr. Mainsail questioned whether they could get the money. Mr. Goffe doubted whether it could be had before the whole affair was settled. Mr. Flick was sure that on due representation the amount would be advanced at once. The income of the property was already accumulating in the hands of the court, and there was an anxiety that all just demands,--demands which might be considered to be justly made on the family property,--should be paid without delay. "I think there would hardly be a question," said Mr. Hardy. "Seven thousand pounds advanced by these two small tradesmen to the Countess Lovel," said the Solicitor-General, "and that done at a time when no relation of her own or of her husband would lend her a penny! I wish I had known that when I went into court yesterday." "It would hardly have done any good," said the Serjeant. "It would have enabled one at any rate to give credit where credit is due. And this son is the man who claims to be affianced to the Lady Anna?" "The same man, Sir William," said Mr. Goffe.