That's why I say--" "I can understand your feeling," said Meldon.

"Indeed I was a good deal surprised at first; but when I came to think it all out, and to realise the sort of way the judge would look at it, I saw, as you'll probably be able to see some time tomorrow--" "No.

I won't.

I'll never see that.

It's absurd to suppose--" "I don't deny," said Meldon, "that when we consider Sir Gilbert Hawkesby as a private individual, separating for a moment the man from the judge, we must credit him with the feeling that Miss King is rather a--what the French would call a _mauvais sujet_." "A what ?" "A black sheep," said Meldon, "a disgrace to the family.