And thus the lawyer found them when he returned from closing the
gate behind Flannagan.
XXVI
THE TELEGRAM
"I CANNOT say anything, I cannot do anything till I have had a few
words with Mrs. Scoville. How soon do you think I can speak to
her?"
"Not very soon. Her daughter says she is quite worn out. Would it
not be better to give her a rest for to-night, judge?"
The judge, now quite recovered, but strangely shrunk and wan,
showed no surprise, at this request, odd as it was, on the lips of
this honest but somewhat crabbed lawyer, but answered out of the
fulness of his own heart and from the depths of his preoccupation:
"My necessity is greater than hers. The change I saw in her is
inexplicable. One moment she was all fire and determination,
satisfied of Oliver's innocence and eager to proclaim it. The
next--but you were with us. You witnessed her hesitation--felt its
force and what its effect was upon the damnable scamp who has our
honour--the honour of the Ostranders under his tongue. Something
must have produced this change. What? good friend, what?"
"I don't know any more than you do, judge. But I think you are
mistaken about the previous nature of her feelings. I noticed that
she was not at peace with herself when she came into the room."
"What's that?" The tone was short, and for the first time
irritable.
"The change, if there was a change, was not so sudden as you
think. She looked troubled, and as I thought, irresolute when she
came into the room.
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