"Oh, Mr. Erle, do tell me what you really
think," said the Duchess.
"That is just what I can't do."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know what to think."
"He can't have done it, Mr. Erle."
"That's just what I say to myself, Duchess."
"But they do say that the evidence is so very strong against him."
"Very strong."
"I wish we could get that Lord Fawn out of the way."
"Ah;--but we can't."
"And will they--hang him?"
"If they convict him, they will."
"A man we all knew so well! And just when we had made up our minds to
do everything for him. Do you know I'm not a bit surprised. I've felt
before now as though I should like to have done it myself."
"He could be very nasty, Duchess!"
"I did so hate that man. But I'd give,--oh, I don't know what I'd
give to bring him to life again this minute. What will Lady Laura
do?" In answer to this, Barrington Erle only shrugged his shoulders.
Lady Laura was his cousin. "We mustn't give him up, you know, Mr.
Erle."
"What can we do?"
"Surely we can do something.
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