The Advocate looked up at this, and regarded his wife with fond admiration. In his private life two influences were dominant--love for his wife, and friendship for Christian Almer. He had love for no other woman, and friendship for no other man, and his trust in both was a perfect trust.
"I do not wonder that the children stare at you," he said; "you must be a new and pleasant experience to them."
"I believe they take me for a saint," she said, laughing gaily; "and I need not tell _you_ that I am very far from being one."
"You are, as we all are, human; and very beautiful, Adelaide."
"It is not often you pay me compliments."
"Do you need them from me? To be sure of my affection--is not that sufficient?"
"I must commence a new study, then," he said gravely; it was difficult for him to indulge in light themes for many minutes together. "So you are making yourself acquainted with the neighbours. I hope you will not soon tire of them."
"When I do I must seek out some other amusement. You have also discovered something since you came here in which you appear to be wonderfully interested."
"In which there is a great mystery. I do not trouble you with these law matters; long ago you expressed weariness of such themes."
"A mystery!" she exclaimed with child-like vivacity, "in a place where news is so scarce! It must be delightful. What is it about? There is a woman in it, of course. There always is."
"Yes; a young woman, whose body was found in the Rhone."
"The wretch! Have they caught him? For of course it is a man who committed the dreadful deed."
"One is in prison, charged with the crime. I visited him to-day."
"Surely you are not going to defend him?"
"It is probable. I shall decide to-night."
"But why, Edward, why? If the man is guilty, should he not be punished?"
"Undoubtedly he should. And if he is innocent, he should not be made to suffer. He is poor and friendless; it will be a relief for me to take up the case, should I believe him to be unjustly accused."
"Is he young--handsome--and was it done through jealousy?"
"I have told you the case is shrouded in mystery. As for the man charged with the crime, he is very common and repulsive-looking."
"And you intend to defend such a creature?"