Dick could not answer this obstinate objection to his belief. Here was an obstacle to his theory which all his investigations could not explain away. So there was a saving element which still redeemed the doctor from condemnation. Julia went home almost convinced that Dick Birch was again mistaken, and the crown was not yet wrested from the head of the demigod. The carriage was driven over to the jail for Mary. Dr. Lynch had important business, which would detain him in Summerville for an hour, but he would call at Pine Hill on his return. Eugene offered to wait, but the doctor would ride back with a friend. The party left him, and Dr. Lynch hastened to the hotel, where they had just parted with Dick Birch. He wished to see the lawyer, and he did see him. Might he beg the favor of half an hour’s private conversation with Dick, who, feeling that he was now on the winning side, was magnanimous enough to grant it. They took a private parlor up stairs. “You have begun to thorn me again, Mr. Birch,” the doctor said, with a smile. “No; the truth begins to thorn you.” “We used to be friends, Mr. Birch.” “That was before I knew you.” “You are harsh.” “I am only just.” “What do you intend to prove?” “That’s my business.” “You understand my position in Poppleton?” “Perfectly.” “You have already placed me in an awkward situation.” “You placed yourself there.” “I took my mother’s name, instead of my father’s, for the reason I mentioned. That is not a very heinous sin; but it will create very strong prejudices against me.” “I know it.” “Groundless prejudices.” “No.” “Why should I suffer for so trivial an offence? My name wrongs no man. Lynch is an Irish name.” “It has been naturalized.” “The name injured me in my profession, and I was about to take the proper legal steps to have it changed,” whined the doctor. “Why did you come to Poppleton, Dr. Lynch?” “Why?” “That’s the question.” “To practise my profession, of course.” “You were doing remarkably well in Dayton.” “Dayton?” The doctor was quite sure he had never mentioned the name of this place to the lawyer, or any other person in Poppleton. “Dayton, Ohio,” added Dick. “You had a large practice there, and everybody was surprised when you abandoned it.” “The climate did not agree with my health,” replied the doctor, with a ghastly smile. “I find it necessary to keep near the salt water.” “Precisely so; and you chose Poppleton.” “I liked the place. I went there, as you are aware, to spend a month in the summer. The locality suited me, and I decided to settle.” “Of course your decision had nothing to do with the fact that Eugene Hungerford lived there?” “None.” “Wasn’t it a little singular you never mentioned the circumstance that you were one of John Hungerford’s contingent legatees?” “I deemed it best not to mention the fact; it might have bred suspicion, and deprived me of the good will of Mr. Hungerford and the family. I have done what I could to serve them.”