It was clear to him that Bollum had understood his own side of the question in deprecating any reference to an attorney.  The money should have been paid and the four witnesses sent away without a word to any one,—­if any attempt in that direction were made at all.  Nevertheless he went to Robert Bolton’s office and succeeded in obtaining an interview with his wife’s brother.  But here, as with the other attorney he failed to make the man understand the state of his own mind.  He had failed in the same way even with his wife.  If it were fit that the money should be paid, it could not be right that he should retain it because the people to whom it was due had told lies about him.  And if this could be explained to the jury, surely the jury would not give a verdict against him on insufficient evidence, simply because he had done his duty in paying the money!

Robert Bolton listened to him with patience and without any quick expression of hot anger; though before the interview was over he had used some very cruel words.  ’We should think ourselves bound to prevent their going, if possible.’

’Of course; I have no idea of going down to Plymouth as the man proposed, or of taking any steps to secure their absence.’

’Your money is your own, and you can do what you like with it.  It certainly is not for me to advise you.  If you tell me that you are going to pay it, I can only say that I shall look very sharp after them.’

‘Why should you want to ruin your sister?’

’You have ruined her.  That is our idea.  We desire now to rescue her as far as we can from further evil.  You have opposed us in every endeavour that we have made.  When in the performance of a manifest duty we endeavoured to separate you till after the trial, you succeeded in thwarting us by your influence.’

‘I left it to her.’

’Had you been true and honest and upright, you would have known that as long as there was a doubt she ought to have been away from you.’

‘I should have sent her away?’

‘Certainly.’

’So as to create a doubt in her mind, so as to disturb her peace, so as to make her think that I, having been found out, was willing to be rid of her?  It would have killed her.’

‘Better so than this.’

’And yet I am as truly her husband as you are the husband of your wife.  If you would only teach yourself to think that possible, then you would feel differently.’

‘Not as to a temporary separation.’

‘If you believed me, you would,’ said Caldigate.

’But I do not believe you.  In a matter like this, as you will come to me, I must be plain.  I do not believe you.  I think that you have betrayed and seduced my sister.  Looking at all the evidence and at your own confession, I can come to no other conclusion.  I have discussed the matter with my brother, who is a clear, cool-headed, most judicious man, and he is of the same opinion.  In our own private court we have brought you in guilty,—­guilty of an offence against us all which necessarily makes us as bitter against you as one man can be against another.  You have destroyed our sister, and now you come here and ask me my advice as to buying off witnesses.’