evening had begun to make itself felt by its increasing gloom before
he left him. Wine and biscuits were sent in to them, but neither of
them even noticed the man who brought them. Twice in the day,
however, Mr. Prendergast gave the baronet a glass of sherry, which
the latter swallowed unconsciously; and then, at about four, the
lawyer prepared to take his leave. "I will see you early to-morrow,"
said he, "immediately after breakfast."

"You are going then?" said Sir Thomas, who greatly dreaded being
left alone.

"Not away, you know," said Mr. Prendergast. "I am not going to leave
the house."

"No," said Sir Thomas; "no, of course not, "but--" and then he
paused.

"Eh!" said Mr. Prendergast, "you were saying something."

"They will be coming in to me now," said Sir Thomas, wailing like a
child; "now, when you are gone; and what am I to say to them?"

"I would say nothing at present; nothing to-day."

"And my wife?" he asked, again. Through this interview he studiously
called her his wife. "Is--is she to know it?"

"When we are assured that this man's story is true, Sir Thomas, she
must know it. That will probably be very soon,--in a day or two.
Till then I think you had better tell her nothing."