"Yes, Monsieur de Vautrin," replied Jim, "my brother—but an intimate of Barry Quinlevin's——"
"Ah, I comprehend—an accomplice?"
"You might call him that—if you like." He shrugged and turned aside. "We don't get along, my brother and I, but I don't think you'll find much to gain by putting him on the witness stand. Besides, it won't look very pretty in the papers. It's as much to my interest as yours to keep it out."
The Duc eyed him suspiciously again.
"But you must have some other interest besides this in wishing to help me. What's the ax you have to grind, Monsieur?"
Jim Horton grinned and shrugged.
"For myself—nothing."
"That is difficult to believe."
"Then I would advise you to tax your imagination to the utmost. I don't want Madame Horton to figure in an affair that she will regret the rest of her life."
"But why——?"