‘Then you cannot know that she was free to contract a marriage--and you cannot know that you were legally married to her!’ said Tom Sampson triumphantly. His interests as well as his client’s were at stake, and he was determined to make a hard fight for them. His stewardship was worth a good five hundred a year. If the estate came to be handed over for the establishment and maintenance of a hospital, he would in all probability lose his position of land steward and collector of rents. Some officious committee would oust him from his post. His trusteeship would bring him nothing but trouble. ‘That is a curious way of looking at the question,’ said Treverton thoughtfully. ‘It is the only right way. Why should any man be in a hurry to prove himself guilty of felony? How do you know that Mademoiselle Chicot did not leave a husband behind her at Auray? It may have been to escape from his ill-treatment that she came to Paris. That was a desperate step for a young woman to take--a month’s journey through a strange country, alone, and on foot.’ ‘She was so young,’ said Treverton. ‘Not too young to have married foolishly.’ ‘What would you advise me to do?’ ‘I’ll tell you to-morrow, when I’ve had time to think the matter over. I can tell you in the meantime what I would advise you not to do.’ ‘What is that?’ ‘Don’t surrender your estate till you--and we, as your wife’s trustees--are thoroughly convinced that you have no right to hold it. Mr. Clare, I must ask you, as my co-trustee to Mrs. Treverton’s marriage settlement, to be silent as to the whole of the facts that have become known to us to-night, and to request your son also to keep his knowledge to himself.’ ‘My son can have no motive for injuring Mr. and Mrs. Treverton,’ said the Vicar. ‘Of course not,’ replied Sampson; ‘yet I thought his manner this evening was somewhat vindictive.’ ‘I believe he was only moved by his regard for Laura,’ answered the Vicar. ‘He took up the matter warmly because he considered that she had been deeply injured. I can but think so too, and I do not wonder that my son should feel indignant. As to the legal bearing of the case, Mr. Sampson, I leave you to judge that, and to deal with that as you best may for the interests of your client. But as to its moral aspect, I should do less than my duty as a minister of the Gospel if I were not to declare that Mr. Treverton has been guilty of a sin which can only be atoned for by deep and honest repentance. I will say no more than that now. Good-night, Treverton. Good-night, Laura.’ He took her in his arms and kissed her with fatherly affection. ‘Keep up your courage, my poor girl,’ he said in a low voice. ‘I wish your husband well out of his difficulties, for your sake. Will you come home to the Vicarage with me, and talk over your troubles with Celia? It might be a relief to you.’