arefully.
We are at the end. If this fails I mean to abandon the matter. But for
his money I would have let him go as far as he wanted, and I would let
this man pass too but for the hope of getting at his money. It is the
only way to punish Horace, as he punished me. I feel like you, that the
mystery is with this Arthur Dillon. Since I saw you last, he has filled
my dreams, and always in the dreams he has been so like Horace that I
now see more of a likeness in Arthur Dillon. I have a relative in the
city, a very successful lawyer, Quincy Livingstone. I shall consult him.
Perhaps it would be well for you to accompany me, Edith. You explain
this case so well."

"No, she'll keep out of it, by your leave," the detective answered for
her. "Dillon has had patience with this woman, but he will resent
interference so annoying."

Edith made a face at him.

"As if I could be bossed by either you or Arthur. Sonia, you have the
right stuff in you, clear grit. This trick will land your man."

"You'll find an alligator who will eat the legs off you both before you
can run away," said Curran.

"Do you know what I think, Dick Curran?" she snapped at him. "That you
have been playing the traitor to us, telling Arthur Dillon all we've
been doing. Oh, if I could prove that, you wretch!"

"You have a high opinion of his softness, if you think he would throw
away money to learn what any schoolboy might learn by himself. How much
did you, with all your cleverness, get out of him in the last five
years?"

He laughed joyfully at her wicked face.

"Let me tell you this," he added. "You have been teasing that boy as a
monkey might a lion. Now you will set on him the man that he likes least
in this world, Livingstone. What a pretty mouthful you will be when he
makes up his mind that you've done enough."

Nevertheless the two women called on Livingstone. The great man, no
longer great, no longer in the eye of the world, out of politics because
the charmed circle had closed, and no more named for high places because
his record had made him impossible, had returned to the practice of law.
Eminent by his ability, his achievement, and his blood, but only a
private citizen, the shadow of his failure lay heavy on his life and
showed clearly in his handsome face. That noble position which he had
missed, so dear to heart and imagination, haunted his moments of leisure
and mocked his dreams. He had borne the disappointment bravely, had
lightly