‘Martin, I can never thank you! I can never repay you! I thought of writing to you to-day to ask your help, and I should probably have done it to-morrow. But you can’t think what it means to me, your coming without being asked. It means, for one thing, that you don’t believe this abominable charge? Doesn’t it?’ ‘Well, naturally. You keep your heart up and don’t get flustered. You’ve got some friends left still. All the family are upset about the thing. The mater’s shocked, and so are the boys. They all say for you to cheer up, and that the mistake is sure to be put right soon.’ ‘God bless them for that,’ cried Felix, rising and pacing the cell in evident emotion. ‘Tell them--how much I appreciate--what all their thought means to me.’ ‘Rot!’ said the doctor shortly. ‘What would you expect? But now, I have only a minute or two here, and what I want to ask you is this, what plans have you made for your defence?’ ‘Defence? None, I fear. I just haven’t been able to think about it. I haven’t an idea who to turn to, or what to do. What would you advise?’ ‘Clifford.’ ‘Eh? What? I don’t follow.’ ‘Employ Clifford, of Clifford and Lewisham. He’s a dry stick, but as clever as they’re made, and a good sort. He’s your man.’ ‘I don’t know him. Do you think he would take up the case?’ ‘Sure. Fact is, I went around to ask him how I could get an order to see you--I know him pretty well--and I pumped him. The firm would take it on if they were asked, but that means himself, and you couldn’t have a better man.’ ‘Martin, you put new life into me! God bless you for all you’re doing! Will you arrange it with him? But, wait a minute, can I afford it? Are his fees very high?’ ‘What can you afford?’ ‘Oh, I don’t know. Say a thousand pounds.’ ‘More than enough. I shall arrange it with him at once.’ The friends conversed for some minutes, and then a warder opened the door of the cell. Martin’s time was up. He left Felix cheered by the promise of a further visit, and with tears of thankfulness glistening in his eyes. Determined to lose no time in completing his work, Martin returned direct to the offices of Messrs Clifford and Lewisham. But there the day’s work was over, and all but one or two junior clerks had already left. The doctor therefore made an appointment for the next day and, with a glow of righteous self-satisfaction, went home to tell his family what he had done. On the following afternoon he again found himself in the solicitor’s office.