Mrs. Bobby's reply to this was unexpected. "Is Mr. Fenton considered a clever lawyer, dear?" she asked.
"The best that money can get," said Bobby, somewhat taken aback. "But why, Eleanor?"--
"Oh, well--I hope he knows more about law than he does about women, that's all. Now I say, send for Julian at once."
"Well, you know, Eleanor, I can't help thinking that if he knew of any evidence in her favor he'd have turned up of his own accord before this. It looks badly, I think--his staying away; as if he were afraid of being questioned if he came."
Mrs. Bobby sat for a moment reflecting deeply, her brows knit. "I don't believe," she said, suddenly, "that he knows a thing about it. Where is he, do you know?"
"Some one saw him ages ago in London," said Bobby. "Goodness knows where he is now. But in all events, he must have heard."
"I doubt it. It happened, you know, while he was on the ocean, and by the time he had landed, the first excitement was over, and there was nothing about it in the papers for a long time. So that, even if he bought an American paper, he might not see anything about it, and the foreign ones of course would have nothing--you know how little interest they take in us over there. Oh, it might easily happen--strange as it seems, that he has heard nothing."
"But why is it, do you think," said Bobby, "that Elizabeth doesn't want him here?"
"My dear Bobby, how dull men are! Of course, she doesn't want to call upon him in a time like this. She's too proud. But nothing will prevent him--if I know him rightly--from coming at once, if there is anything he can do to help her."
"Well, if you think it's any good, I'll send a detective after him," said Bobby, with the composure of one to whom money is no object.
The services of a detective proved imperative in finding Gerard. His banks when applied to by cable, regretted to reply that they did not know his address. He had left no directions to have his mail forwarded. Apparently his one idea had been to efface himself and break with some home ties. It was a proceeding which did not altogether surprise Mrs. Bobby, who understood the phase of mind which it indicated; but to Mr. Fenton it was proof positive of his own suspicions, that Gerard dreaded to be summoned as witness on behalf of the woman whom he had once loved.