"Would Mountstuart and Lady Mountstuart approve ?" "Yes," I said firmly.

"They would approve.

You see, it is necessary." "Then, if it's necessary--and I believe you when you say that it is," he answered, "I'll do what I can." What he could do and did do, was to write a personal letter to the Chief of Police in Paris, asking as a favour that his friend, Miss Forrest, a young lady related through marriage to the British Foreign Secretary, should be allowed five minutes' conversation with the Englishman accused of murder, Mr.Ivor Dundas.
I took the letter to the Chief of Police myself, to save time, and because I was so restless and excited that I must be doing something every instant--something which I felt might bring me nearer to Ivor.
From the Chief of Police, who proved to be a most courteous person, I received an order to give to the governor of the gaol or prison where they had put Ivor.

This, he explained, would procure me the interview I wanted, but unfortunately, I must not hope to see my friend alone.

A warder who understood English would have to be present.
So far I had gone into the wild venture without once thinking what it would be to find myself suddenly face to face with Ivor in such terrible circumstances, or what he would think of me for coming in such a way now that we were no longer anything to each other--not even friends.