“My young friend, you have rendered me an inestimable service to-night, and I am deeply grateful to you,” he said earnestly; then added: “But, more of this when I see you again, as we shall doubtless meet to-morrow. As it is late and cold, I will not keep you longer. Good night.”
Gerald responded to his adieu, and they separated, each going his own way.
Early the next morning Gerald received a summons to appear at the court-house at eleven o’clock, and, upon arriving at the place, he found his acquaintance of the previous night awaiting him, and who regarded him with curious intentness as he greeted him.
“Can it be possible that you are the Gerald Winchester whose case was before the court yesterday?” he asked.
“Yes, I am sorry to be obliged to confess that I am,” he replied flushing, and a look of pain clouding his fine eyes.
“It was rather a peculiar affair—I was quite interested in it,” said the lawyer.
“Indeed!” Gerald briefly observed.
“Yes, it was really romantic, and you came off with flying colors,” said his companion, smiling. “As I told you last night, I am a lawyer myself, and I confess, up to the moment of the appearance of that young lady upon the scene, I did not see a vestige of hope for you. Young man, you are to be congratulated upon having had so stanch a friend in the charming Miss Brewster. If I am not greatly mistaken, that John Hubbard is a scamp.”
Gerald lifted a glance of surprise to the gentleman’s face.