Small wonder that
I thought of her with anger and resentment, yes, and with a vague
distrust, for, at the very back of my mind was the suspicion that she
had been a decoy to lure Swain to his destruction.
I threw myself feverishly into the work which had accumulated at the
office, in order to tear my mind away from thoughts like these; but
when Mr. Royce arrived, I had to go over the case with him, and I have
seldom seen a man more puzzled or astonished.
"I shall defend Swain, of course," I concluded, "and I'm hoping that
something in his favour will turn up before long, but I haven't the
remotest idea what it will be. He can't be tried till fall, and
meanwhile I'm afraid he'll have to stay in jail."
"Yes; I see no way of getting him out," agreed my partner. "But the
girl's danger is much more serious. Can't we do something for her?"
"It's difficult to do anything against her will," I pointed out.
"Besides, I've lost interest in her a little."
"Don't blame her too much--we must do everything we can. Since she
isn't of age, she'll have to have a guardian appointed. He might do
something."
"I had thought of that; I'll suggest to her to-night that she let me
arrange for a guardian.
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