As the party drove into town Colby said: 

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea for Jones to bribe that fellow Le Drieux.  If Le Drieux, who holds a warrant for the arrest of Jack Andrews, issued by the Austrian government and vised in Washington, could be won to our side, the whole charge against our friend might be speedily dissolved.”

“Disgraceful!” snapped Maud indignantly.  “I am positive Mr. Jones would not consider such a proposition.”

“Diplomatic, not disgraceful,” commented the lawyer, smiling at her.  “Why should Jones refuse to consider bribery?”

“To use money to defeat justice would be a crime as despicable as stealing pearls,” she said.

“Dear me!” muttered Colby, with a puzzled frown.  “What a queer way to look at it.  Le Drieux has already been bribed, by a liberal reward, to run down a supposed criminal.  If we bribe him with a larger sum to give up the pursuit of Jones, whom we believe innocent, we are merely defending ourselves from a possible injustice which may be brought about by an error of judgment.”

“Isn’t this judge both able and honest?” asked Uncle John.

“Wilton?  Well, possibly.  His ability consists in his knowledge of law, rather than of men and affairs.  He believes himself honest, I suppose, but I’ll venture to predict he will act upon prejudice and an assumption of personal dignity, rather than attempt to discover if his personal impressions correspond with justice.  A judge, Mr. Merrick, is a mere man, with all the average man’s failings; so we must expect him to be quite human.”

“Never mind,” said Patsy resignedly.  “Perhaps we shall find him a better judge than you are lawyer.”

“He has had more experience, anyhow,” said Colby, much amused at the shot.

They found, on arriving at court, that the case had already been postponed.  They drove to the jail and obtained permission to see the prisoner, who was incarcerated under the name of “Jack Andrews, alias A. Jones.”  Maud would have liked a private audience, but the lawyer was present as well as Patsy and Mr. Merrick, and she did not like to ask them to go away.

The boy greeted them with his old frank smile and did not seem in the least oppressed by the fact that he was a prisoner accused of an ugly crime.  The interview was held in a parlor of the jail, a guard standing by the door but discreetly keeping out of earshot.

Colby first informed the boy of the postponement of his formal examination and then submitted to his client an outline of the defense he had planned.  Jones listened quietly and shook his head.

“Is that the best you can do for me?”

“With my present knowledge, yes,” returned the lawyer.

“And will it clear me from this suspicion?” was the next question.

“I hope so.”

“You are not sure?”