With a courteous little gesture he intercepted the passer-by.

Francis found himself standing side by side with the man for whose life he had pleaded that afternoon, within a few feet of the woman whose terrible story seemed to have poisoned the very atmosphere he breathed, to have shown him a new horror in life, to have temporarily, at any rate, undermined every joy and ambition he possessed.
"Mr.Ledsam," Hilditch said, speaking with quiet dignity, "I hope that you will forgive the liberty I take in speaking to you here.

I looked for you the moment I was free this afternoon, but found that you had left the Court.

I owe you my good name, probably my life.

Thanks are poor things but they must be spoken." "You owe me nothing at all," Francis replied, in a tone which even he found harsh.