"Oh, I've been down to Shattuck's office in Wall Street," he answered, rather absently.
"And you saw him? How did he take it?"
"He was very angry. Asked me if I was going to try my case in the newspapers—was very sarcastic. I was just about leaving when I met Doctor Lathrop coming in."
"Doctor Lathrop—coming in!" I exclaimed. "How was that? How was Lathrop—and why there?"
"I saw him alone first. He was very much upstage with me. I thought there was something brewing, so I stayed—that is, went back with him. I'm glad I did. I think I narrowly averted a fight. Lathrop threatened Shattuck—that is, I mean, all in a very polite way—but it practically amounted to telling him to stop seeing his wife, to have no more business relations with her, and all that. It was in the nature of serving notice. Shattuck is very high-spirited. I think if I had not been there there would have been trouble. But Lathrop was very suave and diplomatic."
"I'm wondering about this man Shattuck," I put in. "Is he woman-crazy?"
The laboratory door was suddenly flung open and Doyle burst in.
"Some news!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "The dictagraph works."
"I should expect it to do so," calmed Kennedy. "It has never failed me yet, when properly used, like all science and invention, at the right time and place."
"Say—you're a cold shower. Listen—I'm getting closer to her!"