‘I hardly think so,’ he said slowly, ‘at present. Later on if the case really goes to trial there should be no difficulty. Just for the immediate present I shouldn’t make a move. You have done enough for him, writing that letter to the Inspector.’ Lois looked at him searchingly. ‘Don’t try to keep me away from him, Jimmy,’ she pleaded. ‘Of course not. But it would be difficult for you to get an order, and you better wait till we see how things go on. You probably wouldn’t get two orders under any circumstances.’ ‘If you keep me from him, I’ll never forgive you.’ ‘Dear girl, don’t get notions. I wouldn’t attempt it. But we’re hardly so far on as that yet. There is his family to consider. Have you seen them?’ ‘No. Why should I?’ ‘Just that if they’re going to undertake the defence I don’t quite see where we come in. But we’ll find that out.’ He paused and then went on: ‘Now, old girl, you’ve come to me for professional advice and you’re going to get it. Don’t think I’m trying to keep you away from Austin Ponson, but my advice to you is, don’t make any announcement of your engagement for a day or two yet. You will only distract and worry Ponson, and you won’t do any good. The thing to concentrate on is to get him out of the hands of the police. He’ll want all his wits to help with that. He knows you’re not going to drop him, and that will be enough to comfort him. Take my advice, Lois, and let things alone for the present.’ ‘But how can I see him or do anything for him if the engagement is not known?’ ‘What could you do if it was?’ ‘Well, I could at least take my share of arranging for his defence.’ ‘Aren’t you doing that now? What more do you think you could do?’ ‘But how can you approach the family, acting for me, if it’s not known that we’re engaged?’ ‘Perfectly simply. I’ll see him, explain the facts, and get him to employ me. That will give me ten times the authority that you could, and it will leave his mind at rest about you. Believe me, Lois, that’s the thing to be done.’ ‘Oh, Jimmy, if you’ll do that it would make just all the difference. How good you are!’ ‘Rubbish. But remember you’ve got to do your part—to sit tight and say nothing. I’ll see all these people and arrange matters.’ ‘But you’ll let me know how you get on?’ ‘Sure. I’ll keep nothing back from you.’ He asked her some more questions, finally seeing her to St Pancras and putting her into the Halford train. ‘By Jove,’ he soliloquised as he left the station, ‘here’s a mess! Whatever happens’—he swore great oaths under his breath—‘Lois must be kept out of it. As decent a girl as lives! That’s the way with these extra good women—they _will_ throw themselves away on rotters of all kinds. Heavens, what an idea! To announce an engagement with a man arrested for murder! And now first of all to nip that madness in the bud—_if_ possible.’ He hailed a taxi and was driven to Scotland Yard. ‘Is Inspector Tanner in?’ he asked. ‘Private business.’