"Mr. Black," replied Ralph, "I can not tell you that. You have my terms. Mr. Farrington is a bad man. He can make some restitution by giving me those two documents. That ends it, so far as we are concerned."
"And if he does not agree to your terms?" insinuated the lawyer.
"I shall go to some other lawyer at once, and expose him publicly," said Ralph.
Mr. Black reflected for some moments. Then he arose, took up his hat, and said:
"Remain here till I return, Fairbanks. Mr. Farrington has been sick for some days----"
"I should think he would be!" murmured Ralph, to himself.
"But this is an important matter, and can not brook delay. I will see him at once."
Ralph had to wait nearly an hour. When the lawyer returned he closed the office door and faced his visitor seriously.
"Fairbanks," he said, "I have faith in your honor, or I would never advise my client to do as he has done. You are sure you control this matter sufficiently to prevent any further trouble being made for Mr. Farrington, or any unnecessary publicity of this affair?"
"Yes," assented Ralph pointedly--"unless I ever find out that we have any just claim to the twenty thousand dollars in railroad bonds which once belonged to my father."