She had come to Chelsea because it was the only portion of the town in which she had the semblance of a friend; but there did live in Tite Street a young couple with whom the Minchins had at one time been on friendly terms.

That was in the day of plenty and extravagance; and the acquaintance, formed at an hotel in the Trossachs, had not ripened in town as the two wives could have wished.

It was Mrs.
Carrington, however, who had found the Minchins their furnished house, while her husband certainly interested himself in Rachel's defence.
Carrington was a barrister, who never himself touched criminal work, but he had spoken to a friend who did, to wit the brilliant terror of female witnesses, and caustic critic of the police, to whom Rachel owed so little.

But to Carrington himself she owed much--more indeed than she cared to calculate--for he was not a man whom she liked.

She wished to thank him for his kindness, to give certain undertakings and to ask his advice, but it was Mrs.Carrington whom she really hoped to see.