"Left him!" cried Mr. Ricaby.
"Yes, left him for good and all! I explained his dastardly conduct to her, and when I refused to live in the same house with him, she said: 'If you won't live with him, neither will I.' So she just left him, and if I can help it she'll never go back to him. You can count on mother and me, and I think that between us we ought to bottle up Jimmy and Mr. Cooley."
The lawyer held out his hand.
"I've done you a wrong, Mr. Chase, but I—you'll forgive me, won't you?"
"Don't speak of it," laughed Tod good-humoredly.
"You may be of great value," went on the lawyer hastily. "Of course, it depends on what kind of evidence you have. What proof have you?"
"The best of proof," replied the young man mysteriously, "but don't let us bother her with it— I'll show you my proofs later on."
Mr. Ricaby's face brightened. Perhaps they might yet be able to trap the wily Cooley, after all. Thoughtfully he said:
"If you could persuade your mother to furnish us with some evidence of his intention to defraud——"
Paula protested.