se. I'll see Mr. Ormsby to-day. You are quite sure,
Mr. Jevons, that you've made no mistake about my mother's money. Oh, it's
too wonderful--too amazing!"

"I am quite sure. I went thoroughly into the matter at the time, and it
will give me the greatest pleasure to act for you against Mr. Herresford.
If it should come to a suit, there can only be one issue."

"I will see father myself," observed Mrs. Swinton, with her teeth set and
an ugly light in her eyes. "Mr. Jevons, you will come down to-morrow to
see us, or next day?"

"To-morrow, at your pleasure. I'll bring a copy of the will, and prepare
an exact calculation of the amount of your claim. Good-morning, Mrs.
Swinton. I am pleased to have brought the color back to your cheeks. You
looked very pale when you came in."

"It's the forgery--the dreadful business at the bank that frightens me."

"Do your best alone. I am sure your power of persuasion cannot fail to
melt the hardest heart," the lawyer protested, with his most courtly
air.

"The circumstances are peculiar. But I will try."

Mrs. Swinton reentered her cab with a strange mixture of emotions. As
she drove through the crowded thoroughfares, her feelings were divided
between indignant rage against her father and joy at the thought of John
Swinton's troubles ended, the luxury and independence of the future,
Netty no longer a dowerless bride, Dick a man of wealth without
dependence upon his grandfather.

It is astonishing how soon one gets accustomed to a sudden change of
fortune. The novelty of the situation had worn off by the time the home
journey was finished. She was again in the grip of overwhelming fear. The
horrible dread of a prosecution stood like a spectre in her path.

On her arrival at the bank, she found the doors closed; but she rang the
bell so insistently that, at last, a porter appeared. And she even
persuaded that grim person to violate all rules, and take her card to
Vivian Ormsby, who was conferring with Mr. Barnby. In the end, she
triumphed, and was admitted to the banker's private room.

CHAPTER XXVII

ORMSBY REFUSES

Ormsby greeted Dick's mother with marked coldness. He extended to her the
politeness accorded to an enemy before a duel. He motioned her to a seat
near his desk, and took up a position on the hearthrug. His pale face was
hard set, and his dark eyes gleamed. His hands were clenched behind his
back, and his whole attitude was that of a man holding himself i