The Devil's Advocate by Fred M. White

Philp's pleasant preoccupations were not so great that he could not find plenty of time to devote to the affairs of David Macrae. He had come down to Hitherfield mainly to reach an understanding with Enid Farmer and her father, and now he had succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. Much to his surprise and delight, he had found the genial old man as pleased as himself over the turn of affairs. It was the one thing that he had been hoping for, and now that the matter was settled and the engagement announced, Philp, after consulting Enid, threw himself heart and soul into the business.

He had not the slightest doubt now, even if, indeed, he ever had, that Macrae was entirely innocent. He had worried this thing out in his mind, and it seemed to him an easy matter to put his hand upon the culprit when the right time came. But there must be no indecent haste, which might tend to ruin the whole of his carefully laid plans. In the first instance, he went off and had an interview with the obliging Mr. Blinn, who appeared to be quite a decent type of man, except where business was concerned.