Sir John Joram had declared the journey to be quite necessary.  The Secretary of State had probably not occupied his mind much with the matter; but in the mind of Bagwax there was a fixed idea that the Secretary thought of little else, and that the Secretary had declared that his hands were tied till Bagwax should have been to Sydney.  But his conscience told him that the journey was not necessary, and that the delay would be cruel.  In that cab Bagwax made up his mind that he would do his duty like an honest man.

Sir John’s chambers in Pump Court were gloomy without, though commodious and ample within.  Bagwax was now well known to the clerk, and was received almost as a friend.  ’I think I’ve got it all as clear as running water, Mr. Jones,’ he said, feeling no doubt that Sir John’s clerk, Mr. Jones, must feel that interest in the case which pervaded his own mind.

‘That will be a good thing for the gentleman in prison, Mr. Bagwax.’

’And for the lady; poor lady!  I don’t know whether I don’t think almost more of her than of him.’  Mr. Jones was returning to his work, having sent in word to Sir John of this visitor’s arrival.  But Bagwax was too full of his subject, and of his own honesty, for that.  ’I don’t think that I need go out after all, Mr. Jones.’

‘Oh indeed!’

‘Of course it will be a great sell for me.’

‘Will it, now?’

‘Sydney, I am told, is an Elysium upon earth.’

‘It’s much the same as Botany Bay; isn’t it?’ asked Jones.

’Oh, not at all; quite a different place.  I was reading a book the other day which said that Sydney harbour is the most beautiful thing God ever made on the face of the globe.’

‘I know there used to be convicts there,’ said Mr. Jones, very positively.

’Perhaps they had a few once, but never many.  They have oranges there, and a Parliament almost as good as our own, and a beautiful new post-office.  But I shan’t have to go, Mr. Jones.  Of course, a man has to do his duty.’

‘Some do, and more don’t.  That’s as far as I see, Mr. Bagwax.’

’I’m all for Nelson’s motto, Mr. Jones,—­“England expects that every man this day shall do his duty."’ In repeating these memorable words Bagwax raised his voice.

’Sir John don’t like to hear anything through the partition, Mr. Bagwax.’

’I beg pardon.  But whenever I think of that glorious observation I am apt to become a little excited.  It’ll go a long way, Mr. Jones, in keeping a man straight if he’ll only say it to himself often enough.’

’But not to roar it out in an eminent barrister’s chambers.  He didn’t hear you, I daresay; only I thought I’d just caution you.’

’Quite right, Mr. Jones.  Now I mean to do mine.  I think we can get the party out of prison without any journey to Sydney at all; and I’m not going to stand in the way of it.  I have devoted myself to this case, and I’m not going to let my own interest stand in the way.  Mr. Jones, let a man be ever so humble, England does expect—­that he’ll do his duty.’