But he hesitated;—­and while he was hesitating there came to him a little reminder, a most gentle hint, in the shape of a note from the Secretary of State’s private secretary.  The old squire’s visit to the office had not seemed to himself to be satisfactory, but he had made a friend for himself in Mr. Brown.  Mr. Brown looked into the matter, and was of opinion that it would be well to pardon the young man.  Even though there had been some jumping over a broomstick at Ahalala, why should things not be made comfortable here at home?  What harm would a pardon do to any one?—­whereas there were so many whom it would make happy.  So he asked the Secretary whether that wasn’t a hard case of young Caldigate.  The Secretary whispered that it was in Bramber’s hands, upon which Mr. Brown observed that, if so, it was certainly hard.  But the conversation was not altogether thrown away, for on that afternoon the private secretary wrote his note.

Judge Bramber when he received the note immediately burned it,—­and this he did with considerable energy of action.  If they would send him such cases as that, what right had they to remind him of his duty?  He was not going to allow any private secretary or any Secretary of State, to hurry him!  There was no life or death in this matter.  Of what importance was it that so manifest an evil-doer as this young Caldigate should remain in prison a day or two more,—­a man who had attempted to bribe four witnesses by twenty thousand pounds?  It was an additional evil that such a one should have such a sum for such a purpose.  But still he felt that there was a duty thrown upon him; and he sat down with all the papers before him, determined to make up his mind before he rose from his chair.

He did make up his mind, but did so at last by referring back the responsibility to the Secretary of State.  ’The question is one altogether of evidence,’ he said, ’and not of law.  Any clear-headed man is as able to reach a true decision as I am.  It is such a question as should be left to a jury,—­and would justify a trial on appeal if that were practicable.  It would be well that the case should stand over till Thomas Crinkett and Euphemia Smith shall have been tried for perjury, which, as I understand, will take place at the next winter assizes.  If the Secretary of State thinks that the delay would be too long, I would humbly suggest that he should take her Majesty’s pleasure in accordance with his own opinion as to the evidence.’

When that document was read at the Home Office by the few who were privileged to read it, they knew that Judge Bramber had been in a very ill humour.  But there was no help for that.  The judge had been asked for advice and had refused to give it; or had advised,—­if his remark on that subject was to be taken for advice,—­that the consideration of the matter should be postponed for another three months.  The case, if there was any case in favour of the prisoner, was not one for pardon but for such