Then Johnny congratulated his old acquaintance, Bernard Dale, as to his coming marriage, and explained to them how Lady Julia in one of her letters had told him all about it, and had even given him the number in Sackville Street.  ‘I suppose she learned it from you, Lily,’ said the squire.  ‘Yes uncle, she did.’  And then there came questions as to John’s projected journey to the Continent, and he explained that he was going on law-business, on behalf of Mr Crawley, to catch the dean and Mrs Arabin, if it might be possible.  ’You see, sir, Mr Toogood, who is Mr Crawley’s cousin, and also his lawyer, is my cousin too; and that’s why I’m going.’  And still there had been hardly a word spoken between him and Lily.

‘But you’re not a lawyer, John; are you?’ said the squire.

‘No.  I’m not a lawyer myself.’

‘Nor a lawyer’s clerk?’

‘Certainly not a lawyer’s clerk,’ said John, laughing.

‘Then why should you go?’ asked Bernard Dale.

Then Johnny had to explain, and in doing so he became very eloquent as to the hardships of Mr Crawley’s case.  ’You see, sir, nobody can possibly believe that such a man as that stole twenty pounds.’

‘I do not for one,’ said Lily.

‘God forbid that I should say he did,’ said the squire.

‘I’m quite sure he didn’t,’ said Johnny, warming to his subject.  ’It couldn’t be that such a man as that should become a thief all at once.  It’s not human nature, sir; is it?’

‘It’s very hard to know what human nature is,’ said the squire.

‘It’s the general opinion down in Barsetshire that he did steal it,’ said Bernard.  ’Dr Thorne was one of the magistrates who committed him, and I know he thinks so.’

‘I don’t blame the magistrates in the least,’ said Johnny.

‘That’s kind of you,’ said the squire.

’Of course you’ll laugh at me, sir; but you’ll see that we shall come out right.  There’s some mystery in it of which we haven’t got at the bottom as yet; and if there is anybody that can help us it is the dean.’

’If the dean knows anything, why has he not written and told what he knows?’ said the squire.

’That’s what I can’t say.  The dean has not had an opportunity of writing since he heard—­even if he has yet heard—­that Mr Crawley is to be tried.  And then he and Mrs Arabin are not together.  It’s a long story, and I will not trouble you with it all; but at any rate I’m going off tomorrow.  Lily, can I do anything for you in Florence?’

‘In Florence?’ said Lily; ’and are you really going to Florence?  How I envy you.’

‘And who pays your expenses,’ said the squire.

’Well;—­as to my expenses, they are to be paid by a person who won’t raise any unpleasant questions about the amount.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said the squire.

‘He means himself,’ said Lily.

‘I’m going to have a trip for my own fun,’ said Johnny, ’and I shall pick up evidence on the road, as I’m going—­that’s all.’