he plot of the prisoners who had been brought there that
day, and of the charges that were brought against them.

"Is that Mr. Bolitho?" asked Paul of the secretary of the union, who
was allowed to stand near him.

"Nay," was the reply, "yon's Jordan, the junior. Bolitho's not here
yet. I wish summat would happen to him on the way. I tell yo' I'm
feared of him. This chap is but a beginner, so to speak--a sort of
John the Baptist, that prepares the way for t'other; but Bolitho's a
fair terror and no mistake."

Somehow the name had a familiar sound with it.

"Bolitho, Bolitho, why it's a Cornish name!" said Paul. "I've heard it
many a time down in St. Mabyn. Perhaps when he knows I am a
Cornishman--that is, if he is Cornish, too--he may not be so hard on
me."

Still, this was only a passing thought, and he steeled his heart
against the worst. When the case had dragged on for some time, Paul
noticed that there was a flutter in the court. A man he had not
hitherto seen came in and took his place beside the junior counsel for
the prosecution. He heard a whisper go round the court, "There's
Bolitho." And Paul's eyes were drawn to him as if by magic. There was
something in the face that held his attention, fascinated him. He
found his heart beating faster than was its wont and his muscles
contracting as if he were about to meet an enemy. For the moment he
forgot the reason why he was brought there, so keenly intent was he on
examining the face of the barrister who had just come in. And yet it
was not a face to be feared. It was somewhat florid, and certainly
pleasant to look upon. His eyes were blue and had a somewhat dreamy
expression in them, while the features suggested gentleness rather than
harshness. A handsome man was this Mr. Bolitho, a man who looked as
though he might have many friends. The counsel all round smiled at
him, while the magistrate nodded benignly. He seemed to create an air
of pleasantness. He relieved the somewhat sordid atmosphere which
pervaded the chamber. How much time he had given to the case it was
impossible to say, but, certainly, when he rose to cross-examine, he
seemed to know every detail of it.

Presently the examination came to an end, and Mr. Bolitho rose to
address the jury for the prosecution. In a way which Paul could not
quite comprehend, and yet which seemed perfectly reasonable as he did
it, he laid the whole blame for the trouble at Paul's door. It was