“I am to have a private conversation with him.”
“I can not allow that, madam. You must say what you have to say in my presence, in this office.”
“You are one of the most accommodating men, I must say, that I ever saw.”
“I am sorry, very. I have heard you express your opinion of me, but I am here to do my duty, and will at all events. Here comes the guard. I will have your husband brought in at once.
“Bring the prisoner from cell 77.”
“Oh dear! You have him locked up, and call for him by his number, do you? And he has not had a trial, nor has he been convicted of any crime.”
“We have a warrant for his arrest. His trial will be this week. I hope that he will be able to prove his innocence. I am very sorry for him. I have grieved over the matter considerably.”
“Well, I have not grieved at all. I am going to disown him after I get his signature. Then I shall have all the property in my own name, and I shall try to forget that I ever had a husband—a criminal. My daughter Amelia will be married one week from to-day, and we can not be disgraced by coming here after the marriage takes place, and that is why I am here to-day. Is that he coming?”
“No; I have a prisoner who is to receive his freedom, and that is Pat, bringing him in. By the way, that is your brother-in-law.”
“How dare you insult me in that way? I acknowledge a criminal as a relative? No, never!”