CHAPTER VII

There was a good deal of speculation at the Sheridan Club, of which he was a popular and much envied member, as to the cause for the complete disappearance from their midst of Francis Ledsam since the culmination of the Hilditch tragedy.

"Sent back four topping briefs, to my knowledge, last week," one of the legal luminaries of the place announced to a little group of friends and fellow-members over a before-dinner cocktail.

"Griggs offered him the defence of William Bull, the Chippenham murderer, and he refused it," another remarked. "Griggs wrote him personally, and the reply came from the Brancaster Golf Club! It isn't like Ledsam to be taking golfing holidays in the middle of the session."

"There's nothing wrong with Ledsam," declared a gruff voice from the corner. "And don't gossip, you fellows, at the top of your voices like a lot of old women. He'll be calling here for me in a moment or two."

They all looked around. Andrew Wilmore rose slowly to his feet and emerged from behind the sheets of an evening paper. He laid his hand upon the shoulder of a friend, and glanced towards the door.

"Ledsam's had a touch of nerves," he confided. "There's been nothing else the matter with him. We've been down at the Dormy House at Brancaster and he's as right as a trivet now. That Hilditch affair did him in completely."

"I don't see why," one of the bystanders observed. "He got Hilditch off all right. One of the finest addresses to a jury I ever heard."

Based on the article and the following list of answers, write a list of questions.

1. Sheridan Club
2. speculation
3. a good deal
4. Francis Ledsam
5. the culmination of the Hilditch tragedy
6. one of the legal luminaries
7. Sent back four topping briefs...
8. before-dinner cocktail
9. golfing holidays
10. middle of the session

Numbered questions:
1. what was the name of the club?
2. what was going on there?
3. how much?
4. who has disappeared?
5. since when?
6. what did someone announce to a small group?
7. what was announced?
8. on what occasion?
9. what would be out of character for Ledsam to do?
10. when?