‘Why not?’ Robert Bolton shrugged his shoulders.  ’And I think, moreover, that had you refused your consent I should have married your sister just the same.’

‘Then you know very little about the matter.’

’I don’t think there can be any good in going into that.  It is at any rate the fact that your sister is my wife.  As this demand has been made upon me it was natural that I should wish to discuss it with some one whom I can trust.  I tell you all the facts, but I am not going to listen to any fault-finding as to my past life.’

‘Poor Hester!’

‘Why is she poor?  She does not think herself so.’

’Because there is a world of sorrow and trouble before her; and because all that you have told to me must probably be made known to her.’

’She knows it already;—­that is, she knows what you mean.  I have not told her of the woman’s lie, nor of this demand for money.  But I shall when she is strong enough to hear it and to talk of it.  You are very much mistaken if you think that there are secrets between me and Hester.’

’I don’t suppose you will be pleased to hear the story of such a life told in all the public papers.’

’Certainly not;—­but it will be an annoyance which I can bear.  You or any one else would be very much mistaken who would suppose that life out in those places can go on in the same regular way that it does here.  Gold beneath the ground is a dangerous thing to touch, and few who have had to do with it have come out much freer from misfortune than myself.  As for these people, I don’t suppose that I shall hear from them again.  I shall send them both word that not a shilling is to be expected from me.’

There was after this a long discussion as to the nature of the messages to be sent.  There was no absolute quarrel between the two men, and the attorney acknowledged to himself that it was now his duty to give the best advice in his power to his brother-in-law; but their manner to each other was changed.  It was evident that Robert did not quite believe all that Caldigate told him, and evident also that Caldigate resented this want of confidence.  But still each knew that he could not do without the other.  Their connection was too firm and too close to be shaken off.  And, therefore, though their tones were hardly friendly, still they consulted as to what should be done.  It was at last decided that two messages should be sent by Caldigate, one to Crinkett and the other to Mrs. Smith, and each in the same words.  ’No money will be sent you on behalf of the Polyeuka mine,’ and that this should be all.  Any letter, Robert Bolton thought, would be inexpedient.  Then they parted, and the two messages were at once sent.