“I do know it,” said Fuller impatiently, “and if Sorley is guilty he assuredly must be arrested and punished when the case is proved. All the same we must give him the benefit of the doubt until his criminality is placed beyond all question.” “Why do you defend the man so?” asked Latimer suspiciously; “you don’t approve of him, as you have told me dozens of times.” “I am not thinking of the man so much as of Marie. The shame of having her uncle tried and hanged for a sordid murder would certainly break her heart, Dick.” “Well there’s something in that. How love does complicate honest behavior. But that you love Miss Inderwick you would have no hesitation in telling Moon the truth.” “I admit that. But things being as they are, I must ask you not to speak to the police until I give you leave.” “Very good, old son. I see we’ll both end in jail, for tampering with the course of justice. All the same I shall hold my tongue. And now that being settled so far may I ask what you intend to do?” “I can hardly say. What in your opinion is the step I should take?” “Question Miss Grison and learn if she took back the peacock,” said Dick without a moment’s hesitation. “But hang it all man, she will only tell lies.” “Why should she?” “Your common-sense, let alone what we talked about a few moments ago, should tell you,” said Fuller impatiently. “If she did take all that trouble to implicate Sorley, she won’t give herself away by acknowledging it. The admission that she concealed the peacock in its old cupboard would exonerate Sorley. You can see that?” “Yes! Of course since she hates the man, she—— Hullo, what’s up?” Latimer asked this question because Alan suddenly started to his feet and listened intently to a noise in the outer office. “I hear a boy’s voice,” said the solicitor hastily throwing open the door just in time to permit Jotty to be pushed into the room by the indignant clerk with whom he had been arguing. “Oh it’s you, young man. I thought so. That’s all right, Seymour, I’ll attend to him,” and Fuller, closing the door, pointed out a chair to the page. “Sit down, Jotty.” “Alonzer, please sir,” said the lad quickly, “I don’t want t’ hey anythin’ t’ do wiff m’ ole bad self. I’ve turned over a new leaf, Miss Grison ses.” “We’ll take a look at the old leaf before you do that finally,” said Alan, seating himself at his desk. “Just now and for the next half hour, you are the disreputable Jotty, and not the Sunday-school Alonzo.”