unfortunate client. It was matter of common knowledge that
Chamberlayne had induced numerous persons in Market Milcaster to
enter into financial transactions with him; it was matter of common
repute that those transactions had not always turned out well for
Chamberlayne's clients. Unhappily for himself, Maitland had great
faith in Chamberlayne. He had begun to have transactions with him in a
large way; they had gone on and on in a large way until he was
involved to vast amounts. Believing thoroughly in Chamberlayne and
his methods, he had entrusted him with very large sums of money.

"The Recorder interrupted Mr. Doolittle at this point to ask if he was
to understand that Mr. Doolittle was referring to the prisoner's own
money.

"Mr. Doolittle replied that he was afraid the large sums he referred
to were the property of the bank. But the prisoner had such belief in
Chamberlayne that he firmly anticipated that all would be well, and
that these sums would be repaid, and that a vast profit would result
from their use.

"The Recorder remarked that he supposed the prisoner intended to put
the profit into his own pockets.

"Mr. Doolittle said at any rate the prisoner assured him that of the
two hundred and twenty thousand pounds which was in question,
Chamberlayne had had the immediate handling of at least two hundred
thousand, and he, the prisoner, had not the ghost of a notion as to
what Chamberlayne had done with it. Unfortunately for everybody, for
the bank, for some other people, and especially for his unhappy
client, Chamberlayne died, very suddenly, just as these proceedings
were instituted, and so far it had been absolutely impossible to trace
anything of the moneys concerned. He had died under mysterious
circumstances, and there was just as much mystery about his affairs.

"The Recorder observed that he was still waiting to hear what Mr.
Doolittle had to urge in mitigation of any sentence he, the Recorder,
might think fit to pass.

"Mr. Doolittle said that he would trouble the Court with as few
remarks as possible. All that he could urge on behalf of the
unfortunate man in the dock was that until three years ago he had
borne a most exemplary character, and had never committed a dishonest
action. It had been his misfortune, his folly, to allow a plausible
man to persuade him to these acts of dishonesty. That man had been
called to another account, and the prisoner was left to bear the
consequences of his ass