“I fear as much, but I have been unable to discover who mentioned it, unless one of us three partners did so,” added Mr. Boise with a smile.
Cutler started. Then he said:
“I fancy if you were to ask the telephone boy about it he might be able to tell something.”
“The telephone boy? Tom? Do you mean him?”
“That’s who I mean!” exclaimed Mr. Cutler sharply.
“I never said a word over the telephone, or in any other way about this Kendall suit, or any other!” exclaimed Tom indignantly. “I never talk about the firm’s business outside!”
“No?” remarked Mr. Cutler sneeringly. “Then how did it happen that I heard you calling up Kittridge’s office the other day?”
“Calling up Mr. Kittridge’s office?” repeated Tom. Then he remembered that Mr. Boise had had that lawyer on the wire, refusing a postponement of the case. He told the circumstances.
“Yes, that is so,” acknowledged Mr. Boise. “But why do you accuse Tom, Mr. Cutler?” and he looked sharply at the junior partner.
“Because of something I overheard between Kittridge and one of his clerks.”