He felt himself trembling from head to foot; the very suggestion meant so much.
That night he lay awake for hours thinking. He recalled the night after his return from Tregannon—the long walk he had with Madeline Grover across the downs, the frank confession he made to her of his toils and struggles, the generous sympathy she had extended to him. It was their last walk and talk. He remembered now he had told her how his father's savings had been lost at Reboth, and how they had long given up hope of recovering a penny of it.
"I must get to know somehow," he said to himself. "Bless her! If she has done this she is the noblest woman on earth."
Rufus was not long in getting his father's case reopened. There were only two men left to be dealt with. The claims of the others had gone by default. The court was anxious that the case should be disposed of once for all.
Rufus employed the cleverest lawyer he could find, and together they struggled through the whole case from the beginning.
"Look here," said the lawyer; "if these fellows are ugly it may last years longer."
"Well, Mr. Mason, what do you advise?" Rufus questioned.
"Come to terms with them."
"They may not be reasonable."