An important communication. The Cornishman felt his face grow hot as he read the letter. Susan was found, perhaps, he thought. He had never mentioned her name to Maude Hillary, and now it might be that she would need all the devotion of a loving protector, perhaps even the strong arm of an avenger, at a time when his every thought was absorbed by his approaching marriage. The young man did not wait for any ceremonious appointment, but hurried off at once to Gray’s Inn, and presented himself before Mr. Kursdale, the senior partner. In the quiet office Francis Tredethlyn’s hot eagerness tamed down a little before the matter-of-fact manner of the solicitor. There was a sober tranquillity in the aspect of the man and of the place, which seemed to have a singularly soothing effect upon all human emotion. The sober little clock ticking on the grey stone mantel-piece--a skeleton clock, exhibiting its entire anatomy to the public eye, and superior to all meretricious adornment--seemed to be perpetually ticking out in the stillness: “Let me advise you to take it easily; let me recommend you to take it quietly: whatever the Law can do for you will be done for you here; but it must be done in the Law’s own way, which is very slow, and very complicated, and rather trying to human patience.” Mr. Kursdale received Francis with calm cordiality, and after a few stately compliments proceeded at once to business. “You will remember that my opinion, and that of my partner--for I availed myself of his judgment in the matter,--you will, no doubt, recollect, that after considerable study of the manuscript or journal which you confided to me, I came to the conclusion that the writer of that journal had contemplated imposing upon your cousin’s simplicity by a mock marriage, a sham ceremonial, performed before some person falsely representing himself to be a district registrar. This opinion was really forced upon me by the wording of the diary. Look at the diary in what light I would,--and I assure you I weighed the matter most carefully,--I could not see my way to any other conclusion.” “I understand,” answered Francis. “I knew the man was a scoundrel. I made that out, somehow or other, from his journal. I knew he meant mischief and treachery upon little Susy; but I couldn’t make out _what_ treachery till you opened my eyes to the truth.” “But suppose that, after all my care, I was too hasty in forming a conclusion. Suppose that we have been mistaken, Mr. Tredethlyn?” “How do you mean, sir?”