'One of these young gentlemen,' said Sir Samuel, 'is my brother-in-law. The other, unless this business prevents, will be my brother-in-law before many days. You will, therefore, understand that my endeavours will be to keep them both out of the Dock.' 'The job will be only half complete without; but still--to see young Austin drove out of the place--with disgrace--same as the other one was--why, that should be something--something to think about afterwards.' Checkley went away. Sir Samuel sat thinking what was best to be done. Like everybody else, he quite believed in Athelstan's guilt. Granted that fact, he saw clearly that there was another very black-looking case against him and against George Austin. What should be done? He would consult his wife. He did so. 'What will Elsie say?' she asked. 'Yet, sooner or later, she must be told. I suppose that will be my task. But she can wait a little. Do you go to-morrow morning to Mr. Dering and tell him. The sooner he knows the better.' * * * * * You now understand why Mr. Checkley was so joyous when he arrived at the _Salutation_, and why he proposed that toast. In the morning Sir Samuel saw his brother and whispered in his ear the whole of the case, as prepared and drawn up by Checkley. 'What do you say?' he asked when he had concluded. 'I say nothing.' Mr. Dering had heard all the points brought out one after the other without the least emotion. 'There is nothing to be said.' 'But, my dear brother, the evidence!' 'There is no evidence. It is all supposition. If Athelstan committed the first forgery--there is no evidence to show that he did--if he has been living all these years a life of profligacy in England--I have evidence to the contrary in my own possession--if he was tempted by poverty--if young Austin was also tempted by poverty--if the two together--or either separately--could undertake, under temptation, risks so terrible--you see, the whole case is built upon an "if."' 'Yet it holds together at every point. It is a perfect case. Who else could do it? Checkley certainly could not. That old man--that old servant.' 'I agree with you, Checkley could not do it. Not because he is too old--age has nothing to do with crime--nor because he is an old servant. He could not do it because he is not clever enough. This kind of thing wants grasp and vision. Checkley hasn't got either. He might be a confederate. He may have stopped the letters. He is miserly--he might be tempted by money. Yet I do not think it possible.' 'No--I cannot believe that,' said Sir Samuel. 'Yet it is quite as difficult to believe such a thing of young Austin. Oh! I know everything is possible. He belongs to a good family: he has his own people to think of: he is engaged--he has always led a blameless life. Yet--yet--everything is possible.'