Even that might hardly suffice should a plea be made on Caldigate's behalf that prolonged inquiry was indispensable.
A thousand allegations might be made, as to the characters of these witnesses,--characters which doubtless were open to criticism; as to the probability of forgery; as to the necessity of producing Allan, the clergyman; as to Mrs.Smith's former position,--whether or no she was in truth a widow when she was living at Ahalala.

Richard Shand had been at Ahalala, and must have known the truth.

Caldigate might well declare that Richard Shand's presence was essential to his defence.

There would and must be delay.
But what, in the meantime, would be the condition of Hester,--Hester Bolton, as they feared that they would be bound in duty to call her,--of Hester and her infant?
The thing was so full of real tragedy,--true human nature of them all was so strongly affected, that for a time family jealousies and hatred had to give way.

To father and mother and to the brothers, and to the brother's wife, it was equally a catastrophe, terrible, limitless, like an earthquake, or the falling upon them of some ruined tower.