Jones would not approve.  But he could not restrain himself.  And why should he restrain himself when he had lost all hope of his journey to Sydney?  When the prospect of that delight no longer illumined his days, why should he not enjoy the other delight of communicating his tidings, —­his own discoveries,—­to the afflicted lady?  Unless he did so it would appear to her that Joram had done it all, and there would be no reward,—­absolutely none!  So he told his tale,—­at first by letter and then with his own natural eloquence.  ’Yes, Mrs. Caldigate the postmarks are difficult.  It takes a lifetime of study to understand all the ins and outs of postmarks.  To me it is A B C of course.  When I had spent a week or two looking into it I was sure that impression had never been made in the way of business Bagwax was sitting out on the lawn at Folking and the bereaved wife, dressed in black, was near him, holding in her hand one of the photographed copies of the envelope.  ’It’s A B C to me; but I don’t wonder you shouldn’t see it.’

‘I think I do see a good deal,’ said Hester.

‘But any babe may understand that,’ said Bagwax, pressing forward and putting his forefinger on the obliteration of the postage-stamp.  ’You see the date in the postmark.’

‘I know the date very well.’

’We’ve had it proved that on the date given there, this identical postage-stamp had not yet been manufactured.  The Secretary of State can’t get over that.  I’ll defy him.’

’Why don’t they release him at once then?

‘Between you and me, Mrs. Caldigate, I think it’s Judge Bramber.’

‘He can’t want to injure an innocent man.’

’From what I’ve heard Sir John say, I fancy he doesn’t like to have the verdict upset.  But they must do it.  I’ll defy them to get over that.’  And again he tapped the queen’s-head.  Then he told the story of his love for Jemima, and of his engagement.  Of course he was praised and petted,—­as indeed he deserved; and thus, though the house at Folking was a sad house, he enjoyed himself,—­as men do when much is made of them by pretty women.

But the result of all this was that every detail of the story became known to the public, and was quite common down at Cambridge.  The old squire was urgent with Mr. Seely, asking why it was that when those things were known an instant order had not come from the Secretary of State for the liberation of his son.  Mr. Seely had not been altogether pleased at the way in which Sir John had gone to work, and was still convinced of the guilt of his own client.  His answer was therefore unsatisfactory, and the old squire proclaimed his intention of proceeding himself to London and demanding an interview with the Secretary of State.  Then the Cambridge newspapers took up the subject,—­generally in the Caldigate interest,—­and from thence the matter was transferred to the metropolitan columns,—­which, with one exception, were strong in favour of such