rget, sir, that all Mrs. Endicott wants is the
sworn declaration of Arthur Dillon that he is not Horace Endicott, of
his mother that he is her son, of Father O'Donnell that he knows nothing
of Horace Endicott since his disappearance."

"You would not like the case to come to trial?" said the lawyer to
Sonia.

"I must get my divorce," she answered coolly, "whether this is the right
man or no."

"Let me tell you what may happen after the summons, or notice, is served
on Mr. Dillon," said the lawyer. "The serving can be done so quietly
that for some time no others but those concerned need know about it. I
shall assume that Mr. Dillon is not Horace Endicott. In that case he can
ignore the summons, which is not for him, but for another man. He need
never appear. If you insisted on his appearance, you would have to offer
some evidence that he is really Horace Endicott. This you cannot do. He
could make affidavit that he is not the man. By that time the matter
would be public property, and he could strike back at you for the
scandal, the annoyance, and the damage done to his good name."

"What I want is to have his declaration under oath that he is not
Horace. If he is Horace he will never swear to anything but the truth."

For the first time Sonia showed emotion, tears dropped from her lovely
eyes, and the lawyer wondered what folly had lost to her husband so
sweet a creature. Evidently she admired one of Horace's good qualities.

"You can get the declaration in that way. To please you, he might at my
request make affidavit without publicity and scenes at court."

"I would prefer the court," said Sonia firmly.

"She's afeared the lawyer suspects her virtue," Edith said to herself.

"Let me now assume that Arthur Dillon is really Horace Endicott,"
continued Livingstone. "He must be a consummate actor to play his part
so well and so long. He can play the part in this matter also, by
ignoring the summons, and declaring simply that he is not the man. In
that case he leaves himself open to punishment, for if he should
thereafter be proved to be Horace Endicott, the court could punish him
for contempt. Or, he can answer the summons by his lawyer, denying the
fact, and stating his readiness to swear that he is not any other than
Arthur Dillon. You would then have to prove that he is Horace Endicott,
which you cannot do."

"All I want is the declaration under oath," Sonia repeated.

"And you are ready for any ill conseque