"Tobin will be glad to know that."
"I hope he may. After to-morrow he will be the first to admit it. But once more I crave to be allowed to conduct this case in my own way. I can listen to none; so be a good fellow, put on your hat, and come along to see the lady."
"Well, I must say that for a youngster who is asked for the first time to conduct the defence in a capital charge you don't lack confidence in yourself."
"If I did I should not be holding the brief."
"There is something in that. And in any case you will have to have your way now. It is too late in the day to stand up against you."
Mr. Whitcomb pressed his bell and a clerk appeared.
"I want permission to interview Emma Harrison. Will you ring up the prison and see if you can get the governor to give it?"
The clerk withdrew.
"They are not likely to refuse it?" said Northcote.
"They ought not to be," said Mr. Whitcomb, "but when you are confronted with Mr. Bumble in any shape or form, your motto must always be, 'You never can tell.'"
"Arbitrary brute," said the young man with vehemence, "I hate him altogether."
"I also; but one should always do him the justice of conceding that he has arduous duties to perform."
"Presumably that is the reason why he aggravates difficulties of those who are called to help him in performing them."
