"You will do that better, possibly, when Richard shall have made his
disclosure."

"It's--it's--never his own father that he accuses? Justice Hare?"

"Your wits must be wool-gathering, Ball."

"Well, so they must, to give utterance to so preposterous a notion,"
acquiesced the attorney, pushing back his chair and throwing his
breakfast napkin on the carpet. "But I don't know a soul you could
object to go against except the justice. What's anybody else in West
Lynne to you, in comparison to restoring Dick Hare to his fair fame? I
give it up."

"So do I, for the present," said Mr. Carlyle, as he rose. "And now,
about the ways and means for your meeting this poor fellow. Where can
you see him?"

"Is he at West Lynne?"

"No. But I can get a message conveyed to him, and he could come."

"When?"

"To-night, if you like."

"Then let him come here to this house. He will be perfectly safe."

"So be it. My part is now over," concluded Mr. Carlyle. And with a few
more preliminary words, he departed. Lawyer Ball looked after him.

"It's a queer business. One would think Dick accuses some old flame of
Carlyle's--some demoiselle or dame he daren't go against."

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

On Monday evening the interview between Lawyer Ball and Richard Hare
took place. With some difficulty would the lawyer believe his tale--not
as to its broad details; he saw that he might give credit to them but
as to the accusation against Sir Francis Levison. Richard persisted,
mentioned every minute particular he could think of--his meeting him
the night of the elopement in Bean lane, his meetings with him again in
London, and Sir Francis's evident fear of him, and thence pursuit, and
the previous Saturday night's recognition at the door of the Raven, not
forgetting to tell of the anonymous letter received by Justice Hare the
morning that Richard was in hiding at Mr. Carlyle's. There was no doubt
in the world it had been sent by Francis Levison to frighten Mr. Hare
into dispatching him out of West Lynne, had Richard taken refuge in his
father's home. None had more cause to keep Dick from falling into the
hands of justice than Francis Levison.

"I believe what you say--I believe all you say, Mr. Richard, touching
Thorn," debated the attorney; "but it's next to impossible to take in so
astounding a fact as that he is Sir Francis Levison."

"You can satisfy yourself of the fact from other lips than mine," s