that counsel for the prosecution might think to
advance his cause by referring to other proceedings, past or future, and
might even go so far as to name a lady who has been most wantonly and
cruelly maligned by one of the parties to this case?"

"Exactly. You use the very words in regard to it which I would have used
myself. That is a contingency, I imagine, which you would strongly
desire to avoid."

"So strongly do I desire it, that you would not be surprised if I had
already taken measures with that end in view."

"Decidedly not. But it will be only natural that the prosecution should
try and damage Walcott as much as possible--showing the motive he would
have for getting rid of his wife, and, going into the details of their
former quarrels. The question is whether any man can be expected, in
doing this, to abstain from mentioning the names of third parties."

"Has it never occurred to you, Mr. Larmer, that there is one way, and
only one way, in which I could certainly guarantees that the name of the
lady in question should not be mentioned? Your plan, if you will excuse
my saying so, is clumsy and liable to fail. Mine is perfectly secure
against failure, and perhaps a little more congenial."

Larmer's face fell.

"You do not mean," he said, "that you have taken a brief from the
prosecution!"

"If I had, I should have stopped you as soon as you began to speak, and
told you so. But I may say as much as this--if I am retained by them I
shall go into court; and, if they retain anyone else, I shall have good
reason to know that the case will be conducted precisely as I should
conduct it myself. I imagine that this matters very little to you, Mr.
Larmer. I have not done much with this class of cases, and there will be
no difficulty in finding a stronger man."

Mr. Larmer was silent for a minute or two. Sydney Campion's manner took
him aback.

"I am sorry to hear what you have said," he remarked at last. "I fear it
must inevitably prejudice my client if it is known that you are on the
other side."

"I don't see why it should," Sydney said, with manifest indifference.
"At any rate, with respect to the point you were mentioning, it is clear
that the lady's name will not be introduced by the prosecution."

"Let it be equally clear," said Larmer, "that it will not be introduced
by the defence. This was the first instruction which I received from my
client--who, I may say, was a schoolfellow of mine, and in whose h