ing for her. In short, it comes to this--I stick to my old opinion,
that the poor lady was drowned in Malsham river."

This was just what Gilbert, happily for his own peace, could not bring
himself to believe. He was ready to confide in Mr. Medler as a model of
truth and honesty, rather than admit the possibility of Marian's death.

"We have this man Medler's positive assertion, that Mrs. Holbrook is with
her father, you see, Mr. Proul," he said doubtfully.

"_That_ for Medler's assertion!" exclaimed the detective contemptuously;
"there are lawyers in London who will assert anything for a
consideration. Let him produce the lady; and if he does produce her, I
give him leave to say that Thomas Henry Proul is incapable of his
business; or, putting it in vulgar English, that T.H.P. is a duffer. Of
course I shall carry out any business you like to trust me with, Mr.
Fenton, and carry it out thoroughly. I'll set a watch upon Mr. Medler's
offices, and I'll circumvent him by means of his clerk, if I can; but
it's my rooted conviction that Mrs. Holbrook never left Hampshire."

This was discouraging; and with that ready power to adapt itself to
circumstances which is a distinguishing characteristic of the human mind,
Gilbert Fenton began to entertain a very poor opinion of the worthy
Proul's judgment. But not knowing any better person whose aid he could
enlist in this business, he was fain to confide his chances of success to
that gentleman, and to wait with all patience for the issue of events.
Much of this dreary interval of perpetual doubt and suspense was spent
beside John Saltram's sick bed. There were strangely mingled feelings in
the watcher's breast; a pitying regret that struggled continually with
his natural anger; a tender remembrance of past friendship, which he
despised as a shameful weakness in his nature, but could not banish from
his mind, as he sat in the stillness of the sick-room, watching the
helpless creature who had once kept as faithful a vigil for him.

To John Saltram's recovery he looked also as to his best chance of
restoring Marian to her natural home. The influence that he himself was
powerless to bring to bear upon Percival Nowell's daughter might be
easily exerted by her husband.

"She was lured away from him, perhaps, by some specious lie of her
father's, some cruel slander of the husband. There had been bitter words
between them. Saltram has betrayed as much in his wandering talk; but to
the