story of the shadow and the peaked cap may appeal to the public
and assure you some sympathy, but for an entire reversal of its
opinion you will need substantial and incontrovertible evidence.
You must remember--you will pardon my frankness--that your
husband's character failed to stand the test of inquiry. His
principles were slack, his temper violent. You have suffered from
both and must know. A poor foundation I found it for his defence;
and a poor one you will find it for that reversal of public
opinion upon which you count, without very strong proof that the
crime for which he was punished was committed by another man. You
think you have such proof, but it is meagre, very meagre. Find me
something definite to go upon and we will talk."

"Discouragement; discouragement everywhere," she complained. "Yet
I know John to have been innocent of this crime."

The lawyer raised his brows, and toyed impatiently with his watch-
chain. If her convictions found any echo in his own mind, he gave
no evidence of it. Doubtfully she eyed him.

"What you want," she observed at length, with a sigh, "is the name
of the man who sauntered down the ravine ahead of my husband. I
cannot give it to you now, but I do not despair of learning it."

"Twelve years ago, madam; twelve years ago."

"I know; but I have too much confidence in my cause to be daunted
even by so serious an obstacle as that. I shall yet put my finger
on this man. But I do not say that it will be immediately. I have
got to renew old acquaintances; revive old gossip; possibly,