Mliss :: :: University of Virginia Library

“Threats accomplish nothing. To a woman of resources—that
is to a woman like me, there are two
ways to reach one end. One way has failed. I'll take
the other.

“It's best to have one thing understood. You can't
succeed without me.”

“I don't propose to try. I simply give you leave of
absence.”

“And when you want me—”

“I will send for you.”

“Perhaps you'll forget to send.”

“Perhaps I shall.”

“Still I shall oome. Don't have any doubts about
that.”

“Well, come.”

Early the next morning Waters put on his disguise
and took the steamer for Napa.

Mrs. Smith made an elaborate toilet, and at ten presented
herself at the office of her legal adviser.

Hr. Hopps has yet only been incidentally introduced.
He is worthy of a presentation on his own
account.

At first glance the man was not preposessing. He was
tall, with a short body, long thin legs, long arms and
large hands. His shoulders were stooping, his chest
flat, and as he sat doubled up in his office chair, should
his face by chance be covered, he might be taken for
the missing link in the Darwinian theory. His face
redeemed him. If not handsome it was respectable,
and denoted great mental power. His forehead was
broad, and jutted out over clear, steady gray eyes,
giving evidence of physical nerve and large perceptive
organs. His nose was large and broad at the
base, his mouth stern, his whole face resolute and intelligent.

Mrs. Smith was too good a judge of men to form
any designs upon this man, out from instinct and
habit she played the artillery of her charms on all she
met. Her tone as she addressed him was low and musical,
her glance soft, her smile as sweet as that of a
siren.

“Well,” he said, with a touch of impatience in his
tone, “has anything happened?”

“Mliss called upon me last evening.”

“Have the Shaws thrown her off?”

“No; she was accompanied by a member of the
Shaw family—a particular frind of yours, I believe—
Mr. Robert Shaw.”

“Proceed, madam. What was the purpose of her
visit?”

“In part to inform me that she has her mother's
picture.”

“Indeed! Then she acted without Shaw's advice in
this case?”

“Probably. Lawyers, I believe, do not give their
opponents points.”

“Not real ones. You believe then that she has her
mother's picture?”

“I think she may have.”

Mr. Hopps made a note of the intelligence, and then
turned to the lady.

“You said the object of her visit was in part to inform
you that she had her mother's picture. What
was the other `in part?”'

“To see and have her companion see the gentleman
you know as Mr. Smith.”

“I understand. The girl is not a fool. She knows
that he is the man who killed McSnagley.”

“Yes,” said the lady.

“Is there any other reason why she should wish to
have young Mr. Shaw to see Mr. Smith?”

“There may be.”

“Madam, I have always told you to keep nothing
from me. What is this reason?”

“She fancies Mr. Smith has designs on the life of
Mr. Gray.”

“What foundation is there for this suspicion?”

“I suppose I must tell you the facts?”

“If you have killed Mr. Gray, you must tell me.”

“Well. Mr. Smith did visit Mr. Gray's office with
intent to kill him.”

The lawyer darted a savage look upon his fair client.

“Did you sanction such a step without consulting
me?”

“I did not sanction it. I did not know the attempt
was to be made until it had failed.”

“Relate the circumstances.”

“It is Mr. Gray's habit to remain in his office until
six o'clock, when he goes to dinner. From five to six
he is usually alone. Mr. Smith entered the outer
office and closed the door. He then concealed himself,
intending to attack Mr. Gray when he should
come out of his private office.”

“Well; he did not attack him?”

“No; when the door opened a very beautiful young
lady stepped out in advance.”

“A very beautiful young lady! And she had been
with Mr. Gray—how long?”

“At least an hour.”

“Do you know who this young lady was?”

“It was Miss Reginia Shaw.”

A slight flush swept up the face of the lawyer, but
he simply said:

“Proceed.”

“They found the door closed and locked. Mr. Gray
hurried his companion back to the private office and
closed the door. The movement was so quick that
Mr. Smith had not time to recover from his surprise.
He reflected that now his presence was suspected I
would be a fight in the dark in which the chances
would be even. Thus reflecting he withdrew while
Mr. Gray and Miss Shaw were in the private office.”

“That is the only wise act that idiot ever committed.
Where is he now?”

“Gone into the country.”

“You will write to him, I presume?”

“If I have occasion.”

“Write and advise him to hang himself. We cannot
be compromised by such marplots as he.”

“I will,” said the lady.

“Have you reason to believe that Mr. Gray suspects
who was lying in wait?”

“Mliss suspects. She accused him openly last
night.”

“But there is no proof?”

“None, whatever.”

“Good. They may suspect what they please. If
they had caught him, or seen him, our case would be
ruined.”

“Not by any means.”

“Perhaps you are a better judge than I.”

“In this matter, yes. Mr. Smith is my husband.
Mliss is my daughter. Mr. Gaay has seduced my
daughter from her home.”

“We have no proof of that.”

“We have. But if we had not we have a right to
assume the fact since she now lives under his protection.”

“And you assume also the right of a step-father to
kill the seducer of his step-daughter.”

“If he has not the right no California jury would
punish him for so doing.”

The lawyer shook his head.

“When you women take the lead in these matters,
you fix your eyes only on a certain point. You do not
properly survey the field. What evidence have you
that Mr. Gray has seduced your daughter.”

“I can prove at least that he held her on his lap
with his arm around her waist.”

“Pooh! A child of twelve! and Mr. Gray had been
her teacher, her friend, almost her father. Madam

you must leave the direction of the case to me, or take
it to some lawyer who would be fool enough to let
you have your own way.

“I leave it to you. I have the utmost confidence
in your integrity and in your judgment. Still if it
can be shown that Mr. Gray's relations with my
daughter—”

“If it can be shown. There is where the trouble
comes. In the absence of positive proof the presumption
is all against you. Mr. Gray has the reputation
of being an irreproachable man. He has the look of a
man, and no one will believe him guilty of such baseness
without positive proof.”

“But with proof—positive proof—”

“Madam, prove that the moon is made of green
cheese, and our ideas of astronomy must give way to
a fact demonstrated.”

“Well, you shall have the proof you require.”

At this moment the office boy burst into the room
with the news of Mr. Shaw's death.

“Fortune favors us,” said Mr. Hopps. “Mr.
Shaw was a great lawyer—when he was sober.”

“How very sudden,” said the lady, turning pale;
“was he subject to any disease?”

“Yes—brandy.”

Mrs. Smith soon took her departure. The thought
of death descending in that irregular way stirred a
conscience not very clear. She resolved to attend
church the next Sunday—unless it should rain.”

“Mr. Hopps was left alone. He took five of his
busy minutes for reflection. The object of his
thoughts was not Mr. Shaw, his old partner, who had
been to him a friend and benefactor, but Mr. Shaw's
daughter, now fatherless, penniless, and powerless.

“Gray cannot sustain himself,” reasoned the more
experienced lawyer; “he is simply a good clerk. Suppose
she loves him? He has nothing to offer. Alone
in his office at least an hour! She never visited me.
Fortune favors me at last. Brandy, I thank thee.
Thou art the only agent of suicide that bringeth no
disgrace.”