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ur hat。〃
Richard complied by putting his hat on his head； pulling it so low that it touched his nose。 He felt himself safer in it。 Mr。 Carlyle showed him into Mr。 Dill's room； and then turned the key upon him； and put it in his pocket。 Whether this precautionary measure was intended to prevent any possibility of Captain Thorn's finding his way in； or of Richard's finding his way out； was best known to himself。
Mr。 Carlyle came to the front door； opened it； and admitted Captain Thorn。 He brought him into the clerk's office； which was bright with gas； keeping him in conversation for a few minutes standing； and then asking him to be seatedall in full view of the little window。
〃I must beg your pardon； for being late；〃 Captain Thorn observed。 〃I am half an hour beyond the time you mentioned； but the Herberts had two or three friends at dinner； and I could not get away。 I hope； Mr。 Carlyle； you have not come to your office to…night purposely for me。〃
〃Business must be attended to；〃 somewhat evasively answered Mr。 Carlyle； 〃I have been out myself nearly all day。 We received a communication from London this morning； relative to your affair； and I am sorry to say anything but satisfactory。 They will not wait。〃
〃But I am not liable； Mr。 Carlyle； not liable in justice。〃
〃Noif what you tell me be correct。 But justice and law are sometimes in opposition； Captain Thorn。〃
Captain Thorn sat in perplexity。 〃They will not get me arrested here； will they？〃
〃They would have done it； beyond doubt； but I have caused a letter to be written and dispatched to them； which must bring forth an answer before any violent proceedings are taken。 That answer will be here the morning after to…morrow。〃
〃And what am I do to then？〃
〃I think it is probable there may be a way of checkmating them。 But I am not sure； Captain Thorn； that I can give my attention further to this affair。〃
〃I hope and trust you will；〃 was the reply。
〃You have not forgotten that I told you at first I could not promise to do so；〃 rejoined Mr。 Carlyle。 〃You shall hear from me to…morrow。 If I carry it on for you； I will then appoint an hour for you to be here on the following day； if notwhy； I dare say you will find a solicitor as capable of assisting you as I am。〃
〃But why will you not？ What is the reason？〃
〃I cannot always give reasons for what I do；〃 was the response。 〃You will hear from me to…morrow。〃
He rose as he spoke； Captain Thorn also rose。 Mr。 Carlyle detained him yet a few moments； and then saw him out at the front door and fastened it。
He returned and released Richard。 The latter took off his hat as he advanced into the blaze of light。
〃Well； Richard； is it the same man？〃
〃No； sir。 Not in the least like him。〃
Mr。 Carlyle； though little given to emotion； felt a strange relief relief for Captain Thorn's sake。 He had rarely seen one whom he could so little associate with the notion of a murderer as Captain Thorn； and he was a man who exceedingly won upon the regard。 He would heartily help him out of his dilemma now。
〃Excepting that they are both tall； with nearly the same color of hair； there is no resemblance whatever between them；〃 proceeded Richard。 〃Their faces； their figures； are as opposite as light is from dark。 That other； in spite of his handsome features； had the expression at times of a demon； but this one's expression is the best part of his face。 Hallijohn's murderer had a curious look here； sir。〃
〃Where？〃 questioned Mr。 Carlyle； for Richard had only pointed to his face generally。
〃WellI cannot say precisely where it lay； whether in the eyebrows or the eyes； I could not tell when I used to have him before me； but it was in one of them。 Ah； Mr。 Carlyle； I thought； when Barbara told me Thorn was here； it was too good news to be true； depend upon it； he won't venture to West Lynne again。 This man is no more like that other villain than you are like him。〃
〃Thenas that is set at restwe had better be going； Richard。 You have to see your mother； and she must be waiting in anxiety。 How much money do you want？〃
〃Twenty…five pounds would do； but〃 Richard stopped in hesitation。
〃But what？〃 asked Mr。 Carlyle。 〃Speak out； Richard。〃
〃Thirty would be more welcome。 Thirty would put me at ease。〃
〃You shall take thirty；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle； counting out the notes to him。 〃Nowwill you walk with me to the grove； or will you walk alone？ I mean to see you there in safety。〃
Richard thought he would prefer to walk alone； everybody they met might be speaking to Mr。 Carlyle。 The latter inquired why he chose moonlight nights for his visits。
〃It is pleasanter for travelling。 And had I chosen dark nights； Barbara could not have seen my signal from the trees；〃 was the answer of Richard。
They went out and proceeded unmolested to the house of Justice Hare。 It was past nine； then。 〃I am so much obliged to you Mr。 Carlyle；〃 whispered Richard； as they walked up the path。
〃I wish I could help you more effectually； Richard； and clear up the mystery。 Is Barbara on the watch？ Yes； there's the door slowly opening。〃
Richard stole across the hall and into the parlor to his mother。 Barbara approached and softly whispered to Mr。 Carlyle； standing； just outside the portico； her voice trembled with the suspense of what the answer might be。
〃Is it the same manthe same Thorn？〃
〃No。 Richard says this man bears no resemblance to the real one。〃
〃Oh！〃 uttered Barbara； in her surprise and disappointment。 〃Not the same！ And for the best part of poor Richard's evening to have been taken up for nothing。〃
〃Not quite nothing；〃 said Mr。 Carlyle。 〃The question is now set at rest。〃
〃Set at rest！〃 repeated Barbara。 〃It is left in more uncertainty than ever。〃
〃Set at rest so far as regards Captain Thorn。 And whilst our suspicions were concentrated upon him； we thought not of looking to other quarters。〃
When they entered the sitting…room Mrs。 Hare was crying over Richard； and Richard was crying over her； but she seized the hand of Mr。 Carlyle。
〃You have been very kind； I don't know whatever we should do without you。 And I want to tax your kindness further。 Has Barbara mentioned it？〃
〃I could not talk in the hall； mamma； the servants might have overheard。〃
〃Mr。 Hare is not well； and we terribly fear he will be home early； in consequence； otherwise we should have been quite safe until after ten； for he is gone to the Buck's Head； and they never leave； you know； till that hour has struck。 Should he come in and see Richardoh； I need not enlarge upon the consequences to you； Archibald； the very thought sends me into a shiver。 Barbara and I have been discussing it all the evening； and we can only think of one plan； it is； that you will kindly stay in the garden； near the gate； and； should he come in； stop him； and keep him in conversation。 Barbara will be with you； and will run in with the warning； and Richard can go inside the closet in the hall till Mr。 Hare has entered and is safe in this room； and then he can make his escape。 Will you do this； Archibald？〃
〃Certainly I will。〃
〃I cannot part with him before ten o'clock； unless I am forced；〃 she whispered； pressing Mr。 Carlyle's hands； in her earnest gratitude。 〃