“Gladly, Sargent, but how?”
“I am authorised by my client to withdraw this motion if Mrs. Fenton will discontinue her case.”
Mr. Harding looked at the fair face turned toward him.
“You understand,” he said. “This is Mr. Sargent,—your husband’s attorney.”
With a gesture, half terror and half disdain, the young mother drew the children closer to her side and Sargent felt the hot blood flying to his cheeks. But she seemed only conscious of Mr. Harding’s presence as she answered him.
“Does he dare offer to bribe me with my own children? It is monstrous!”
Mr. Harding glanced sadly at the younger lawyer as the latter turned again to his impatient client.
“She won’t consent?” muttered Fenton. “Nonsense! You’ve worked the smooth business right enough, Sargent, but we’ve won the motion and done the decent. Now knock things about. You’ve got to scare her half out of her wits——”
Sargent’s face flushed.
“I think you are mistaking her,” he said. “I know you are mistaking me.”