"Ask me first, my dear sir, whether I have found her. Perhaps not. If it is my interest to search her out, it is not less your duty to catch her. A vagrant with white mice is a kenspeckle, and surely you can have no difficulty in tracing her. I need scarcely add, that when you do find her, you will substitute her for my client, and make amends for the disgrace you have brought upon an innocent woman and a respectable family."
"I won't say that," replied the other, shaking his head. "The evidence against Mrs. S—— is too heavy to admit of our believing a vagrant, influenced by the desire of, perhaps, a paid martyrdom, or the excitement of a mania."
"Then, why ask me to help you to find her?"
"For our satisfaction as public officers."
"And to my detriment as a private agent."
"Not at all."
"Yes; if I choose to make her a witness for the defence, and leave the jury to judge of paid martyrdom, or her real madness. Paid martyrdom!—paid by whom?"
"Not necessarily by you."
"But you want me to help you to be able to prove the bribe out of her own mouth, don't you?"
"Of course we would examine her."