aying special emphasis on the word, "has secured the services of
Barton & Barton, and those birds are too old to be caught with
chaff; besides, you know as well as I the part that firm has taken
in the Mainwaring affairs."

"Barton & Barton? Incredible! The case is hopeless then for Ralph
Mainwaring: he is a fool if he expects to win."

"Just what I was leading up to. Whitney is no match even for this
man, Sutherland, and he will be a mere child in the hands of the
Bartons. Now, the question is, where do we come in? As you say,
Ralph Mainwaring's case is hopeless, unless--" and he looked
significantly at his client.

"I do not think I quite catch the drift of your meaning," she answered,
slowly.

"Has it not occurred to you that there are not two people in existence
who can so quickly tear to shreds the scheme of this impostor as
you and I? There is not a human being living outside of myself who
knows the real facts concerning that will; and who could give such
effective and convincing testimony regarding Harold Mainwaring's
son as yourself?"

"Admitting all this, what do you propose?"

"When Ralph Mainwaring has staked his highest card and finds that
the game is irrevocably lost, what will he not give at the last
critical moment for assistance such as we can then furnish him?"

"And which course would you pursue in that event?" she asked, a
tinge of irony in her tone. "Would you deny that such a will ever
existed in face of whatever evidence may be brought forward in its
support? or would you admit being a party to the destruction of
the will?"

"My dear madam, I am perfectly capable of conducting this affair
to our mutual satisfaction and without running my head into any trap,
as you so pleasantly suggest. And right here allow me to say that
it would be just as well for you not to make those insinuations
which you are so fond of throwing out at random. As I said before,
no living person outside of myself, including even yourself, knows
the facts regarding that will. You have your own surmises, but they
are only surmises, and you had best keep them to yourself as you
know enough of me by this time to know it will be to your interest
to accept my suggestions and fall in line with my plans."

Her face was in the shadow, and he did not see the scornful curl of
her lip or her peculiar expression, as she remarked coldly,--

"You are only wasting words and time in your efforts to intimidate
me. You