‘Only just come, indeed! I came by the train after yours. I was in London at seven o’clock. I’ve been with Mr. Leopold, the well-known solicitor--the man who’s so great in criminal cases, you know,--and I’ve got him for our side. And I’ve been down to Cibber Street with him, and we’ve picked up all the information we can. The landlady’s laid up with low fever, and so we couldn’t get much out of her; but we’ve seen Mr. Gerard, and we know pretty well what he has to bring forward against us, and I think he’ll be rather a reluctant witness. It’s a pity that Mr. Desrolles is out of the way. We might have made something out of him.’ Laura turned to him with a startled look. Desrolles! That was the name by which her husband had known her father. He, to whom an _alias_ seemed so easy, had been known in his London lodgings as Mr. Desrolles. And he had been in the house at the time of the murder. ‘You have no fear as to the result, have you?’ Laura asked Sampson, with intense anxiety. ‘My husband will be able to prove himself innocent of this terrible crime.’ ‘I don’t believe the other side will be able to prove him guilty,’ said Sampson thoughtfully. ‘But he may remain all his life under the stigma of this hideous suspicion. The world will believe him guilty, though the crime cannot be brought home to him. Is that what you mean?’ ‘My dear Mrs. Treverton, I am not clever enough or experienced enough to offer an opinion in such a case as this. We are only at the outset of things. Besides, I am no criminal lawyer.’ ‘What does Mr. Leopold say?’ asked Laura, looking at him intently. ‘I am not at liberty to tell you that. It would be a breach of confidence,’ answered Sampson. ‘I see. Mr. Leopold thinks there is a strong case against my husband.’ ‘Mr. Leopold thinks nothing at present. He has no data to go upon.’ ‘He must remember the report of the inquest, and all that was said in the newspapers.’ ‘Mr. Leopold thinks that of the newspapers,’ exclaimed Sampson, snapping his fingers. ‘Mr. Leopold is not led by the nose by the newspapers. He would not be where he is if he were that kind of man.’ ‘Well, we must wait and hope,’ said Laura, with a sigh. ‘It is a hard trial, but it must be borne. Will anything be done to-morrow?’ ‘There will be an inquiry at Bow Street.’ ‘Will Mr. Leopold be present?’ ‘Of course. He will watch the case as a cat watches a mouse.’ ‘Tell him that I should think half my fortune too little to reward him if he can prove--clearly and plainly prove--my husband’s innocence.’ ‘Mr. Leopold won’t ask for your fortune. He’s as rich as----well, rolling in money. He’ll do his duty, you may depend upon it, without any prompting from me.’ CHAPTER XL. MR. LEOPOLD ASKS IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS.