you
if you'll let me. Isn't that true?"

"I believe it--yes. And yet--there must be another reason. What is it?"

"Does it matter? I've made you the offer. If the salary isn't enough,
name your figure."

"You're not afraid of Woodman and wish to reach him through me?" Stuart
continued, ignoring his last answer.

The ghost of a smile flitted around the shining little black eyes.

"Afraid?" he asked contemptuously. "I'm not even interested in him. The
old fossil's a joke. He thinks he can stop the progress of the world to
attend a case of measles in Mott Street."

The financier leisurely lifted his right hand, removed the cigar from
his mouth, and struck the ashes lightly with his finger. Stuart noticed
how small his hand, how delicately shaped, how smooth and careful its
movements. Beyond a doubt it was the hand of an expert thief. And yet
this man, by an accident of birth, was a devout member of the church
and complied with the written laws of modern society.

Stuart was silent a moment, watching the dark masked face before him.
At last he blurted out:

"Well, Cal, what's the real reason you make me this offer to-day?"

Bivens moved uneasily in his chair, fidgeted, hesitated and finally
leaned close, speaking in a whisper:

"You can keep a little secret?"

"You ought to know that before making me such an offer."

"Yes. Yes, of course I know you will." Bivens paused and resumed his
cigar. "The fact, is--Jim--I'm in love----"

Stuart cleared his throat to strangle an exclamation.

"In love?" he echoed in a tone of light banter.

"Hopelessly, desperately in love!"

"Then you need a minister, not a lawyer," Stuart said, with quiet
sarcasm.

"It's no joke, old man," Bivens went on soberly. "It's the most serious
thing I was ever up against. Fell in love at first sight."

"But where do I come into this affair?" Stuart interrupted, maintaining
his self-control with an effort.

"Simple enough. The Primroses----"

"Oh, it's Miss Primrose?"

"Yes--Miss Nan. You see, they think the world of you. She said you grew
up together in the same town. I was telling her about my business. I
must have been bragging about what we were going to do. I was crazy,
just looking at her. Her beauty made me drunk. I told her we needed a
new attorney. She said you were the man. I told her I'd offer you the
place. She seemed pleased. When I told her I was afraid you wouldn't
take a place under my direction, she laughed at the