The gentleman whipped out his note-book in a moment, and made with the rapidity of lightning some hundreds of outline drawings of gulls flying, and miniature arches, and many-toed crabs, and trophies of antlers, interspersed with dots and monkeys’ tails, variously twisted, and Imperial moustaches similarly treated. “Mrs.--Wingfield--” the gentleman had infinite tact and taste--“Mrs. Wingfield is making such an application? Messrs. Liscomb and Liscomb, I suppose?” “Messrs. Liscomb and Liscomb.” “With Sir Edward retained, of course?” “With Sir Edward. You seem pretty well acquainted with the procedure.” The gentleman smiled. “I have been connected with the Press for fifteen years, sir,” he said. “May I ask one more question, Mr. Wingfield? Is it the intention of the--of Mrs. Wingfield to remain at the Manor House pending the result of the litigation?” “You may take it from me that she will run no risks,” said Jack. “She will not change her present domicile for any other, so long as Marcus Blaydon remains out of gaol.” The visitor made some more lightning drawings in outline, and then became thoughtful. “May I venture to express the hope that Mrs. Wingfield is in good health, sir?” he said--“in good health, and confident of the result of her application for a pronouncement of nullity?” he added, after a hesitating moment. “She is in excellent health and spirits, thank you,” replied Jack. “Of course, in matters of law one must always expect delay, and in such a point as that upon which we await a decision, it is natural that one should become impatient. However, we know that there is nothing for it but to sit tight for a month or two.” “I’m extremely obliged to you for this interview, Mr. Wingfield,” said the gentleman, turning over a new leaf of his note-book, and looking up with his pencil ready. “Now, if there is anything whatever that you would like to be made public in this connection----” “I don’t know that I have anything in my mind beyond what I have just told you,” said Mr. Wingfield. “Of course, you can easily understand that we would greatly prefer that nothing should appear in the newspapers about us or our lawsuits until they are actually before the courts, but we know that that would be to expect too much.” “If I am not taking too great a liberty, sir, I would say that, unpleasant though it may appear from some standpoints to have the particulars published, you will find that in the long run it will be advantageous to you. Public sympathy is better to have with one than against one.” “I suppose it is second only to having the law on one’s side.”