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ing with apparent earnestness； and looking down at Barbara。 Another moment； and a smile crossed his lips； the same sweet smile so often bent upon her in the bygone days。 Yes； they were together in their unclouded happiness； and sheshe turned away toward her own lonely sitting…room； sick and faint at heart。
Ball & Treadman； as the brass plate on their office door intimated； were conveyancers and attorneys at law。 Mr。 Treadman； who attended chiefly to the conveyancing； lived at the office； with his family。 Mr。 Ball； a bachelor； lived away； Lawyer Ball； West Lynne styled him。 Not a young bachelor； midway； he may have been between forty and fifty。 A short stout man； with a keen face and green eyes。 He took up any practice that was brought to himdirty odds and ends that Mr。 Carlyle would not have touched with his toebut； as that gentleman had remarked； he could be honest and true upon occasion； and there was no doubt that he would be so to Richard Hare。 To his house； on Monday morning； early； so as to catch him before he went out； proceeded Mr。 Carlyle。 A high respect for Mr。 Carlyle had Lawyer Ball； as he had had for his father before him。 Many a good turn had the Carlyles done him； if only helping him and his partner to clients whom they were too fastidious to take up。 But the two； Mr。 Carlyle and Lawyer Ball did not rank alike； though their profession was the same； Lawyer Ball knew that they did not； and was content to feel humble。 The one was a received gentleman； the other was a country attorney。
Lawyer Ball was at breakfast when Mr。 Carlyle was shown in。
〃Halloo； Carlyle！ You are here betimes。〃
〃Sit still； don't disturb yourself。 Don't ring； I have breakfasted。〃
〃The most delicious /pate de foie/；〃 urged Lawyer Ball； who was a regular gourmand。 〃I get 'em direct from Strasbourg。〃
Mr。 Carlyle resisted the offered dainty with a smile。 〃I have come on business；〃 said he； 〃not to feast。 Before I enter upon it； you will give me your word； Ball； that my communication shall be held sacred； in the event of your not consenting to pursue it further。〃
〃Certainly I will。 What business is it？ Some that offends the delicacy of the Carlyle office？〃 he added； with a laugh。 〃A would…be client whom you turn over to me in your exclusiveness？〃
〃It is a client for whom I cannot act。 But not from the motives you assume。 It concerns that affair of Hallijohn's；〃 Mr。 Carlyle continued； bending forward； and somewhat dropping his voice。 〃The murder。〃
Lawyer Ball； who had just taken in a delicious /bonne bouche/ of the /foie gras/； bolted it whole in his surprise。 〃Why； that was enacted ages and ages ago； it is past and done with；〃 he exclaimed。
〃Not done with；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Circumstances have come to light which tend to indicate that Richard Hare was innocentthat it was another who committed the murder。〃
〃In conjunction with him？〃 interrupted the attorney。
〃No： alone。 Richard Hare had nothing whatever to do with it。 He was not even present at the time。〃
〃Do you believe that？〃 asked Lawyer Ball。
〃I have believed it for years。〃
〃Then who did do it？〃
〃Richard accuses one of the name of Thorn。 Many years backten at leastI had a meeting with Richard Hare； and he disclosed certain facts to me； which if correct； could not fail to prove that he was not guilty。 Since that period this impression has been gradually confirmed by little and by little； trifle upon trifle and I would now stake my life upon his innocence。 I should long ago have moved in this matter； hit or miss； could I have lighted upon Thorn； but he was not to be found； neither any clue to him； and we now know that this name； Thorn； was an assumed one。〃
〃Is he to be found？〃
〃He is found。 He is at West Lynne。 Mark you； I don't accuse himI do not offer an opinion upon his guiltI only state my belief in Richard's innocence； it may have been another who did it； neither Richard nor Thorn。 It was my firm intention to take Richard's case up； the instant I saw my way clearly in it； and now that that time has come I am debarred from doing so。〃
〃What debars you？〃
〃Hence I come to you；〃 continued Mr。 Carlyle； disregarding the question。 〃I come on the part of Richard Hare。 I have seen him lately； and conversed with him。 I gave him my reasons for not personally acting； advised him to apply to you； and promised to come here and open the matter。 Will you see Richard in good faith； and hear his story； giving the understanding that he shall depart unmolested； as he came； although you do not decide to entertain the business？〃
〃I'll give it with all the pleasure in life；〃 freely returned the attorney。 〃I'm sure I don't want to harm poor Dick Hare； and if he can convince me of his innocence； I'll do my best to establish it。〃
〃Of his own tale you must be the judge。 I do not wish to bias you。 I have stated my belief in his innocence； but I repeat that I give no opinion myself as to who else may be guilty。 Hear his account； and then take up the affair or not； as you may think fit。 He would not come to you without your previous promise to hold him harmless； to be his friend； in short； for the time being。 When I bear this promise to him for you； my part is done。〃
〃I give it to you in all honor； Carlyle。 Tell Dick he has nothing to fear from me。 Quite the contrary； for if I can befriend him； I shall be glad to do it； and I won't spare trouble。 What can possibly be your objection to act for him？〃
〃My objection applies not to Richard。 I would willingly appear for him； but I will not take proceedings against the man he accuses。 If that man is to be denounced and brought before justice； I will hold neither act nor part in it。〃
The words aroused the curiosity of Lawyer Ball； and he began to turn over all persons； likely and unlikely； in his mind； never； according to usage； giving a suspicion to the right one。 〃I cannot fathom you； Carlyle。〃
〃You will do that better； possibly； when Richard shall have made his disclosure。〃
〃It'sit'snever his own father that he accuses？ Justice Hare？〃
〃Your wits must be wool…gathering； Ball。〃
〃Well； so they must； to give utterance to so preposterous a notion；〃 acquiesced the attorney； pushing back his chair and throwing his breakfast napkin on the carpet。 〃But I don't know a soul you could object to go against except the justice。 What's anybody else in West Lynne to you； in comparison to restoring Dick Hare to his fair fame？ I give it up。〃
〃So do I； for the present；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； as he rose。 〃And now； about the ways and means for your meeting this poor fellow。 Where can you see him？〃
〃Is he at West Lynne？〃
〃No。 But I can get a message conveyed to him； and he could come。〃
〃When？〃
〃To…night； if you like。〃
〃Then let him come here to this house。 He will be perfectly safe。〃
〃So be it。 My part is now over；〃 concluded Mr。 Carlyle。 And with a few more preliminary words； he departed。 Lawyer Ball looked after him。
〃It's a queer business。 One would think Dick accuses some old flame of Carlyle'ssome demoiselle or dame he daren't go against。〃
CHAPTER XXXVIII。
THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN。
On Monday evening the interview between Lawyer Ball and Richard Hare took place。 With some difficulty would the lawyer believe his tale not as to its broad details； he saw that he might give credit to them but as to the accusation against Sir Francis Levison。 Richard persisted； mentioned every minute particular he could think ofhis meeting him the night of the elopement in Bean lane； his meetings with him again in London； and Sir Francis's evident fear of him； and thence pursuit； and the previous Saturday night's recognition at the door of the Raven； not forgetting to tell of the anonymous letter received by Justice Hare the morning that Richard was in hiding at Mr。 Carlyle's。 There was no doubt in the world it had been sent by Francis Levison to frighten Mr。 Hare into dispatching him out of West Lynne； had Richard taken refuge in his father's home。 None had more cause to keep Dick from falling into the hands of justice than Francis Levison。
〃I believe what you sayI believe all you say； Mr。 Richard； touching Thorn；〃 debated the attorney； 〃but it's next to impossible to take in so astounding a fact as that he is Sir Francis Levison。〃
〃You can satisfy yourself of the fact from other lips than mine；〃 said Richard。 〃Otway Bethel could testify to it if he would； though I doubt his willingness。 But there's Ebenezer James。〃
〃What does he know about it？〃 asked the attorney； in surprise。 〃Ebenezer James is in our office at present。〃
〃He saw Thorn often enough in those days； and has； I hear； recognized him as Levison。 You had better inquire of him。 Should you object to take cause against Levison？〃
〃Not a bit of it。 Let me be assured that I am upon safe grounds as to the identity of the man； and I'll proceed in it forthwith。 Levison is an out…and…out scoundrel； /as/ Levison； and deserves hanging。 I will send for James at once； and hear what he says；〃 he concluded； after a pause of consideration。
Richard Hare started wildly up。 〃Not while I am here； he must not see me。 For Heaven's sake； consider the peril to me； Mr。 Ball！〃
〃Pooh； pooh！〃 laughed the attorney。 〃Do you suppose I have but this one rec