"Because," he replied, dropping his voice a little but still
speaking with great distinctness, "William Bull is a cunning and
dangerous criminal whom I should prefer to see hanged."
"You know that?"
"I know that."
"It would be a great achievement to get him off," Wilmore
persisted. "The evidence is very weak in places."
"I believe that I could get him off," was the confident reply.
"That is why I will not touch the brief. I think," Francis
continued, "that I have already conveyed it to you indirectly,
but here you are in plain words, Andrew. I have made up my mind
that I will defend no man in future unless I am convinced of his
innocence."
"That means--"
"It means practically the end of my career at the bar," Francis
admitted. "I realise that absolutely: Fortunately, as you know,
I am not dependent upon my earnings, and I have had a wonderful
ten years."
"This is all because of the Hilditch affair, I suppose?"
"Entirely."
Wilmore was still a little puzzled.
"You seem to imagine that you have something on your conscience
as regards that business," he said boldly.
"I have," was the calm reply.
"Come," Wilmore protested, "I don't quite follow your line of
thought. Granted that Hilditch was a desperate criminal whom by
the exercise of your special gifts you saved from the law, surely
his tragic death balanced the account between you and Society?"
"It might have done," Francis admitted, "if he had really
committed suicide.
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