“Why, there is my mother herself!” ejaculated Richard, suddenly.  “She is the wisest of women, and the very one to conduct this matter, if properly instructed.”

“Is she, now, is she?” said the lawyer, cheerily.  “Come, come, that’s well, and I begin to see a little light.  Let her go down to Gethin, where, as I conclude, she is not known, and see Miss Trevethick herself.  I should like to see her beforehand, however; indeed, that is absolutely necessary.”

“In my note to her, yesterday, I asked her to call at your office in Plymouth on her way hither,” stammered Richard.  “I thought it better—­that is, in the first instance—­that she should hear from you how matters stood.”

Mr. Weasel took a copious pinch of snuff, and shut his eyes, as though he were going to sneeze.  Whenever a client got upon an embarrassing topic Mr. Weasel took snuff, to obviate the necessity of looking him in the face; while, in case of any compromising disclosure, Mr. Weasel sneezed, to obviate hearing it.

“In a case of this kind, Mr. Yorke, not a moment is to be lost.  I should advise your mother’s going direct to Gethin from my house, and making sure of this young lady’s evidence.  There is even a possibility—­I don’t say it is probable, but there is just a chance, you see—­that she may be subpoenaed by the other side.”

“Just so,” assented Richard, so naively that a smile flitted across the little lawyer’s face.

“Under these circumstances, then, this is what we will do, my dear young Sir:  Mrs. Yorke will go to the Gethin Castle as a guest, and, as I shall venture to suggest, under another name; she will then find an opportunity of speaking to Miss Trevethick without awakening her father’s suspicions; and when she comes to Cross Key, she will have, I trust, some good news to bring you, something to talk about (although you must be very careful and guarded, mind that, for you will not be left alone together, as we are) besides mere regrets and lamentations; don’t you see, don’t you see?”

Richard saw exceedingly well, and felt more grateful to the lawyer for devising such an arrangement than he would like to have confessed; nevertheless, he did thank him heartily.

“Not at all, not at all, my dear young Sir,” drawing on one of his gloves, in signal of departure.  “In a case like this, we must consult feelings as well as array our facts; we must bring heart and head to bear together.  Speaking of head reminds me, by-the-by, of the subject of counsel.  I propose to instruct Mr. Smoothbore, who leads upon this circuit; I gather from your letter that there will be no difficulty with respect to funds.”

“Whatever may be necessary, Mr. Weasel, for my defense will be, you may rest assured, forthcoming.  My mother—­”

The smile disappeared from the lawyer’s face with electrical rapidity.  “Pardon me, my young friend,” said he; “but as a professional man, I only deal with principals in these matters.  The word forthcoming is a little vague.  Counsel are paid beforehand, you must remember.”