All this, then, Marjorie knew from Mr. Biddell, who seemed always to
know everything; but it was not until the evening on which the judges
arrived that she learned the last and extreme measures that would
betaken to establish these suspicions. She had ridden openly to Derby so
soon as the news came from there that for the present she might be set
at liberty.
The lawyer came into the darkening room as the square outside began to
grow quiet, and Marjorie opened her eyes to see who it was.
He said nothing at first, but sat down close beside her. He knew she
must be told, but he hated the telling. He carried a little paper in his
hand. He would begin with that little bit of good news first, he said to
himself.
"Well, mistress," he said, "I have the order at last. We are to see him
to-night. It is 'for Mr. Biddell and a friend.'"
She sat up, and a little vitality came back to her face; for a moment
she almost looked as she had looked in the early summer.
"To-night?" she said. "And when--"
"He will not be brought before my lords for three or four days yet.
There is a number of cases to come before his. It will give us those two
or three days, at least, to prepare our case."
He spoke heavily and dejectedly. Up to the present he had been utterly
refused permission to see his client; and though he knew the outlines of
the affair well enough, he knew very little of the thousand details on
which the priest would ask his advice.
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