And this conviction was confirmed when, a night or two afterwards, he dined quietly with the Countess and her brother. All through her animated talk, happier now, in the good news that had come, he searched her face for a sign of guile, of a reservation of the truth, of an _arrière pensée_: looked till he was ashamed of himself for being led to doubt; and saw nothing but frankness and honesty. Clever she was, and possessed of wonderful self-command, but it was a cleverness unmixed with deceit, the reverse of wisdom, not falsehood. Both Alexia and her brother were cheerful that night, happier than they had been since the charge was first levelled. There was a second guest, a countryman of the von Rohnburgs, Dr. Hallamar, the Austrian surgeon who had returned to England on a professional visit. It was a pleasant little party; the four being all completely in accord and sympathy. The doctor naturally felt strongly the way in which the Countess had been treated; he was a strong man, an acute thinker who suggested rather than expressed the depth of his opinions. After dinner the two guests were left for a few moments alone. “Mr. Herriard,” the doctor said, with more warmth than he seemed given to show, “you are a lawyer; it is your professional duty not only to defend but to think the best of your client, to maintain her innocence against the world; but now, tell me, not as a lawyer, but as a man, I will not say an English gentleman, for there the code of honour guides and restricts you, but as a man of brains and worldly knowledge, you do not in your heart believe that it is possible for our hostess to be guilty of this dastardly charge?” Herriard had little difficulty in responding to the somewhat extraordinary invitation. “I should be willing to stake my life on the Countess’s absolute innocence,” he declared resolutely. “I was sure of it,” the other observed. “You, too, Doctor,” Herriard continued eagerly, “you are a man who has doubtless seen much of human nature and its capabilities of deception, does your observation tell you that disingenuousness is possible here?” Hallamar shook his head emphatically. “Not for one moment.” “I am glad to have your confirmation of my conviction,” Herriard replied. “But I would maintain it against any man’s opinion for all that,” he added with a smile. The doctor merely acknowledged his enthusiasm with a gesture as Count Prosper rejoined them. When they went upstairs the Count and Hallamar became deep in a discussion in their own language, and Herriard found himself with Alexia. “You have a downright champion, Countess, in the Professor,” Herriard said. “I was hoping,” she returned, “that I no longer needed one.” “I hope and believe so too,” he replied. Then added in a lower tone, “I shall be sorry though, to think that my office has come to an end.”