'It is quite easy,' he said, 'for me to disappear in such a manner
as to arouse suspicion. I have nothing to keep me here; my briefs--
well, the Solicitor-General can have 'em! I have no ties--nothing
to keep me in any part of the world. When young Pleydell is on his
feet again, and a few more windows have been broken, and nine days
have elapsed, the wonder will give place to another, and I can
return to my--practice.'

'I couldn't let you do it.'

'Oh yes, you could,' said Conyngham with the quickness of his race
to spy out his neighbour's vulnerable point. 'For the sake of Edith
and the little devil.'

Horner sat silent, and after a moment Conyngham went on.

'All we want to do is to divert suspicion from you now--to put them
on a false scent, for they must have one of some sort. When they
find that they cannot catch me they will forget all about it.'

Horner shuffled in his seat. This was nothing but detection of the
thoughts that had passed through his own mind.

'It is easily enough done,' went on the Irishman. 'A paragraph here
and there in some of the newspapers; a few incriminating papers left
in these rooms, which are certain to be searched. I have a bad
name--an Irish dog goes about the world with a rope round his neck.
If I am caught it will not be for some time, and then I can get out
of it somehow--an alibi or something. I'll get a brief at all