"No thank you, my lord," Rathbone said when offered his chance to examine the witness. "I cannot think of anything useful to say to such a man."

The luncheon adjournment was brief, only sufficient to eat the hastiest meal, and then they returned to court. An occupant of the building where Melville lived swore unhappily that he had seen Isaac Wolff visit Melville's rooms and remain for some time. No matter how Sacheverall pressed, he would not put an hour to it. Perversely, his very honesty and reluctance made his evidence the more powerful. It was apparent he both liked Melville personally and regarded this proceeding as an intrusion into those areas of a man's life which should remain private.

It was clear in the jurors' expressions that they attached great weight to his word. He refused point-blank, and with some show of temper, to speculate.

Sacheverall dismissed him with almost palpable satisfaction.

Glancing at Barton Lambert, and at Zillah sitting beside him, so stricken with misery and dismay she looked almost numbed, Rathbone had only one more card to play, and it was a desperate one, with only a shred of hope.

He asked for a fifteen-minute adjournment to consult with Sacheverall.

McKeever granted it, perhaps with more pity than legal reason.

Outside in the hall, Rathbone saw Monk and spoke with him momentarily, but he had nothing to offer, and two minutes later Rathbone strode after Sacheverall, leaving Melville standing alone.

"Well?" Sacheverall asked with a grin. "What now?"

"Ask Lambert if he wants to pursue this," Rathbone demanded. He loathed appealing to Sacheverall, of all people, for mercy, but he had nothing else left.

Sacheverall's fair eyebrows rose in amazement. "For God's sake, what for? He can't lose!"

"He can't lose the case," Rathbone agreed. "He can lose his daughter's happiness and peace of conscience. Have you looked at her face? Do you think this is giving her pleasure? She has her vindication; she does not want or need to ruin Melville as well. Ask Lambert if he needs to go any further."

"I don't need to," Sacheverall said with a broad smile.

"Yes, you do!" Rathbone was furious, but he tried to conceal it for his own dignity. "In case you have temporarily forgotten it, you are acting for the Lambert family, not for yourself!"

Sacheverall flushed. "I'll ask him," he agreed gracelessly. "But I shall also advise him. Now, if that was all you had to say, then we should not delay the court any longer." And without waiting for Rathbone to reply, he turned on his heel and marched back to the courtroom, leaving Rathbone to follow.