e attorney with a level glance, serenely expressionless
as far as could be achieved by eyes so clear and shining, and her voice
was cold as she replied with significant brusqueness.

"It's not a threat, Mr. Irwin. The suit will be brought."

The lawyer frowned, and there was a strident note in his voice when he
answered, meeting her glance with an uncompromising stare of hostility.

"You realize, of course," he said finally, "that this is merely plain
blackmail."

There was not the change of a feature in the face of the woman who
listened to the accusation. Her eyes steadfastly retained their clear
gaze into his; her voice was still coldly formal, as before.

"If it's blackmail, Mr. Irwin, why don't you consult the police?"
she inquired, with manifest disdain. Mary turned to the maid, who now
entered in response to the bell she had sounded a minute before. "Fanny,
will you ask Miss Lynch to come in, please?" Then she faced the lawyer
again, with an aloofness of manner that was contemptuous. "Really, Mr.
Irwin," she drawled, "why don't you take this matter to the police?"

The reply was uttered with conspicuous exasperation.

"You know perfectly well," the lawyer said bitterly, "that General
Hastings cannot afford such publicity. His position would be
jeopardized."

"Oh, as for that," Mary suggested evenly, and now there was a trace of
flippancy in her fashion of speaking, "I'm sure the police would keep
your complaint a secret. Really, you know, Mr. Irwin, I think you had
better take your troubles to the police, rather than to me. You will get
much more sympathy from them."

The lawyer sprang up, with an air of sudden determination.

"Very well, I will then," he declared, sternly. "I will!"

Mary, from her vantage point at the desk across from him, smiled a
smile that would have been very engaging to any man under more favorable
circumstances, and she pushed in his direction the telephone that stood
there.

"3100, Spring," she remarked, encouragingly, "will bring an officer
almost immediately." She leaned back in her chair, and surveyed the
baffled man amusedly.

The lawyer was furious over the failure of his effort to intimidate this
extraordinarily self-possessed young woman, who made a mock of his every
thrust. But he was by no means at the end of his resources.

"Nevertheless," he rejoined, "you know perfectly well that General
Hastings never promised to marry this girl. You know----" He broke off
a