‘Ahem! And now they pretend that he married; that this girl is his daughter, and therefore entitled to the property?’ ‘Exactly.’ ‘You didn’t know of this marriage, did you?’ said Birnie quietly. ‘No, my dear fellow! Of course not,’ answered Gurth colouring. ‘If I had——’ Gurth did not finish the sentence. ‘Well,’ said Birnie, after looking fixedly in the bottom of his cup for a minute, ‘I should compromise—or fight.’ ‘It’s no good fighting. I’m afraid it’s too straight.’ ‘Then compromise, my dear boy. Get an indemnity for the past, and an allowance for the future.’ ‘But would they do it?’ ‘Rather than have a long lawsuit. You can raise no end of quibbles. The law is a glorious weapon to fight Justice with, you know. If you lose the estate you haven’t got a rap; all the expenses would have to come out of the estate. Perhaps they’ll think it cheaper to compromise. Try it.’ Gurth took Birnie’s advice and found it good. The solicitors were instructed to do nothing unfriendly. Mr. Egerton was the victim of an unfortunate circumstance. If he resigned his claim and avoided litigation he would be fairly treated. Gurth accepted a liberal proposition, and acknowledged the genuineness of Miss Egerton’s pretensions, giving his legal assent to a transfer of the property, and accepting an indemnity for the revenue he had already had through his hands. He managed to come out of the business with a small secured income and a by no means small nest-egg, and once more Mr. Oliver Birnie rubbed his hands and congratulated himself on the distinguished services he had rendered his friend. He knew how, moreover, that perhaps Gurth might have some day appealed to him if the settlement had been less satisfactory, and though he owed his present position entirely to Gurth’s assistance in early days, he was by no means inclined to return, the compliment. Men of Birnie’s stamp never return anything, unless it is an I O U in answer to a friend’s appeal for help. Ruth’s solicitors were dealing not only with the affairs of Miss Egerton, but they also, at Ruth’s request, undertook the task of releasing George Heritage. In the quiet lawyer’s office Ruth, deeply veiled, told the whole story, and though her heart almost broke and her face burnt with shame as slowly, and with a trembling voice, she recounted her husband’s share in it, she went on bravely to the end, never halting until she had branded herself with the shame of being a felon’s wife, and stripped herself of every penny she had in the world. The solicitors took up the strange case with energy, and worked bravely for their client. Link by link they rejoined the long-broken chain, and carried the case even into the sacred precincts of the Home Office.