“A Hungerford,” Mason asked, “marrying the daughter of a criminal?”
“Stepdaughter,” Hungerford corrected.
“What will your father say?” Mason asked.
“I hope he’ll say the right thing,” Hungerford said, “because if he doesn’t, it’s going to mean we’ll be estranged from each other. I’m telling you this, Mr. Mason, because I want you to understand why I’m asking to be allowed to contribute toward your fees. Naturally, I’ll ask you to consider what I’ve told you as a sacred confidence. I... well, I naturally want to...”
“Naturally you want to ask Belle yourself?” the lawyer asked with a smile.
“Something like that,” Hungerford said. “I hope she cares for me. I think she does.”
Mason said, “All right, after you’ve asked her, and heard what she has to say, we’ll talk about letting you contribute something toward my fees. In the meantime, we’ll carry on the way we are. One thing, however, may be of interest to you. Carl Moar didn’t embezzle any money from the Products Refining Company.”
“He didn’t?”
Mason shook his head.
“You can prove that?” Hungerford asked eagerly.