The lawyer bent low over her hand as he said good-by. Mr. Jeffries had already reached the door, when he turned again and said:
"Are you sure a very liberal offer wouldn't induce her to drop the name?"
The lawyer shook his head doubtfully.
"Well, see what you can do," cried the banker. To his wife he said: "Are you coming, Alicia?"
"Just a moment, dear," she replied. "I want to say a word to the judge."
"All right," replied the banker. "I'll be outside." He opened the door, and as he did so he turned to the lawyer:
"If there are any new developments let me know at once."
He left the office and Alicia breathed a sigh of relief. She did not love her husband, but she feared him. He was not only twenty years her senior, but his cold, aristocratic manner intimidated her. Her first impulse had been to tell him everything, but she dare not. His manner discouraged her. He would begin to ask questions, questions which she could not answer without seriously incriminating herself. But her conscience would not allow her to stand entirely aloof from the tragedy in which her husband's scapegrace son was involved. She felt a strange, unaccountable desire to meet this girl Howard had married. In a quick undertone to the lawyer, she said:
"I must see that woman, judge. I think I can persuade her to change her course of action. In any case I must see her, I must——" Looking at him questioningly, she said: "You don't think it inadvisable, do you?"
The judge smiled grimly.