‘Mrs. Rawber heard nothing, yet she was on the floor below, and was more likely to hear any movement in my wife’s room.’ ‘I should like to know all you can tell me about Desrolles,’ said Mr. Leopold, frowning over his pocket-book. Honest Tom Sampson sat and listened, open-eyed and silent. To him the famous criminal lawyer was as a god, a being made up of wisdom and knowledge. ‘I can tell you very little,’ answered John Treverton. ‘I know nothing to his discredit, except that he was poor, and too fond of brandy for his own welfare.’ ‘I see,’ answered Leopold quickly. ‘The kind of man who would do anything for money.’ Treverton started. He could not deny that this was in some wise true of Mr. Desrolles, _alias_ Mansfield, _alias_ Malcolm. It horrified him to remember that this man was Laura’s father, and that at any moment the disgrace of that relationship might be made known, should Desrolles’ presence at the police court be insisted upon. Happily Desrolles was on the other side of the Channel, where only the solicitor who received his income knew where to find him. Mr. Leopold asked a good many more questions, some of which seemed frivolous and irrelevant, but all of which John Treverton answered as well as he was able. ‘I hope you believe in me, Mr. Leopold,’ he said, when his solicitor held out his hand at parting. ‘From my soul,’ answered the other earnestly. ‘And, what’s more, I mean to pull you through this. It’s a troublesome business, but I think I can see my way to the end of it. I wish you could help me to find Desrolles.’ ‘That I cannot do,’ said Treverton decidedly. ‘It’s a pity. Well, good-day. The inquiry is adjourned till next Tuesday, so we have a week before us. It will be hard if we don’t do something in that time.’ ‘The police have done very little in a twelvemonth,’ said Treverton. ‘The police have not a monopoly of human intelligence,’ answered Mr. Leopold. ‘We may do better than the police.’ Two advertisements appeared in the _Times_, _Telegraph_, and _Standard_, next morning:-- ‘DESROLLES--TEN POUNDS Reward will be given to anybody furnishing the PRESENT ADDRESS of Mr. DESROLLES, late of Cibber Street, Leicester Square.’ ‘TO JEWELLERS, PAWNBROKERS, &c.--LOST, in February, 187--, a COLLET NECKLACE of IMITATION DIAMONDS.--Anybody giving information about the same will be liberally rewarded.’ CHAPTER XLI. MRS. EVITT MAKES A REVELATION. Mrs. Evitt was very ill. It may be that a prolonged residence on a level with the sewers, and remote from the direct rays of the sun, is not conducive to health or good spirits.