As he walked up the carriage drive to Government House he saw the Governor's tall figure, and the Attorney-General's short one, through the windows of the smoking-room. The Governor came to the door to meet him.
"The very man we were talking about. Come in! Sit down. We have something to propose to you."
The Governor was going up to London on urgent business at the Home Office and the Attorney had to go with him. In these circumstances it had been necessary to arrange that the Court of General Gaol Delivery (interrupted by the Deemster's death, but now summoned to resume) should sit without the Governor, and the Attorney had been suggesting that Stowell should represent him in an important case.
"What is it, Sir?" asked Stowell.
"Murder again, my boy; but of a different kind this time."
A Peel fisherman had killed his wife with shocking brutality, yet everybody seemed to sympathise with him, and there was a danger that a Manx jury might let him off.
"Splendid opportunity to uphold law and order! You'll take the case?"
"With pleasure!"
"Good! The Attorney will send you the papers. And now, I suppose, you would like to see Fenella?"
"May I?"