Among other things he called upon Mr. Probus, nominally on account of another matter.
'I believe,' he said, 'that you are the attorney of Mr. Matthew Halliday?'
'I have that honour.'
'Yes. I observed the fact in reading an affidavit of yours in connection with a case in which I am engaged for the defence, the case of Mr. William Halliday, now in Newgate on a charge of highway robbery.'
'Defence? He has, then, a defence?'
'A defence? Certainly he has a defence. And Counsel. We have engaged Mr. Caterham, K. C., and Mr. Stanton, both of whom you probably know, as counsel for the defence. My dear Sir, we have a very good defence indeed. Let me see. You arrived on the spot, I observe, after the alleged attack was committed.'
'Certainly. My affidavit and my evidence before Sir John, were only as to the identity of the robber.'
'Quite so. But we need not concern ourselves, here, with the defence of Mr. William Halliday. I come to speak about the affairs of Mr. Matthew.'
'Well, sir? What about his affairs?'
'I hear that they are in a very bad way. Oh! Sir, indeed I do not wish to ask any questions. I only repeat what I hear in the City. It is there freely stated that the Firm is ruined: that their ships are sold: and that their business is gone.'