Hugh Ritson looked up with a look of inquiry.
"When you gave the crime to the other, this one became a free man," the lawyer explained.
There was a silence.
"What does it all come to?" said Hugh Ritson, sullenly.
"That your hold of Paul Drayton is gone forever."
"How so?"
"Because you can never incriminate him without first incriminating yourself," said the lawyer.
"Who talks of incrimination?" said Hugh Ritson, testily. "To-day, this man is to take upon himself the name of Paul Lowther—his true name, though he doesn't know it, blockhead as he is. Therefore, I ask again: What does it all come to?"
Mr. Bonnithorne shifted uneasily.
"Nothing," he said, meekly, but the curious smile still played about his downcast face.