"Three weeks."
"And in Cornwall?"
"I have just arrived."
"Then you may not have heard of me, William Schotten Sharkley, solicitor, who acted as your mistress's agent in her case which failed for want of legal or documentary proofs. I did all that I could to befriend her—"
"And pocketed her last shilling, as I have heard."
"Law is an expensive amusement, and lawyers must be paid. I did my best."
"For that I thank you, Lawyer Sharkley," replied Braddon, taking in his hard honest hand the damp, unwholesome fingers of the solicitor, adding somewhat awkwardly, "if you have a bad name, perhaps you can't help it."
Mr. William S. Sharkley's face darkened, and his eyes dilated and shrunk, but he was too craven in spirit to manifest the least annoyance.
"And it was through the lack of certain papers," resumed Braddon, "that my lady's case was lost, and her heart broken?"
"Yes; the doubtful letter she produced referred to a certificate of marriage and a will in favour of her and her two children; but these documents, if they ever existed, no doubt perished with the captain, your master."