SirDouglasRollshadearnedthereputationofbeingEngland'sgreatestbarrister.ButhehasjustbeeninformedbyDoctorHackett,specialistondiseasesoftheheart,thatoverworkhastakenitstollandifSirDouglasdoesnottakeoffforseveralmonthshestandsagoodchanceofdyingsoon.Backinhischambers,asolicitornamedPopewaswaitingtoseehim.Pope'sfirmhandledmostoftheimportantlegalcases.PopewastheretoaskSirDouglastotakeupthedefenseofhisclient,LeslieLocke.SirDouglas'smindwentbacksometwentyyearswhenhewasstrugglingforrecognition,andhehadbeeninlovewithaverybeautifulgirl---LauraHyde.SirDouglashadneverspokenofhislove,however,becausehewasverypoor,andwantedtobequitecertain,beforehemarried,thathewouldbeabletogivehiswifeeveryluxury.