But for the courier, the thing would have really happened a week since." Randal looked astonished.

"Months must have passed," he objected.
"Surely, after that lapse of time, Mrs.Linley must have been safe from discovery." "Take your own positive view of it! I only know that the thing happened.
And why not?
The luck had begun by being on one side--why shouldn't the other side have had its turn next ?" "Do you really believe in luck ?" "Devoutly.

A lawyer must believe in something.

He knows the law too well to put any faith in that: and his clients present to him (if he is a man of any feeling) a hideous view of human nature.

The poor devil believes in luck--rather than believe in nothing.