“Yes,” she whispered faintly; “I remember. I was so grateful to you for your help that night. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come just then. Papa was very bitter about what I did, and of course it was cowardly of me; and very stupid, not to have advised with some one.”
“You did what seemed perfectly justifiable at the moment; Mr. Farley saw it that way afterward.”
“He never spoke to me about it again; I have you to thank for that.”
“No; it was Mr. Farley’s aim to be just. Now, about this Harlowe: I don’t want to alarm you, but I have found it best to be prepared for difficulties even where there’s only a remote chance of having to confront them. I merely want you to know that if that man turns up again I’m ready for him. I have, in fact, accumulated a considerable amount of data that can be used against him if he makes another move. He’s an unscrupulous blackguard, a disgrace to the profession.”
“But that case against my brother is all over now. He couldn’t ask for more money?”
“Not in that particular way,” Eaton replied slowly; “but having succeeded once in frightening money out of you, he might try it again. I suppose Mr. Farley never told you what I discovered—established with documentary proof that I have safely put away in my office—that the Corrigan this Harlowe pretended to represent was not in fact your brother.”
He went on quickly, ignoring the astonishment and bewilderment written on her face.
“That man was no more your brother than he is mine—you need have no doubts about it. Harlowe’s client went to the penitentiary—quite properly, no doubt. The poor fellow never knew how he had been used—never heard of that money! I take off my hat to Brother Harlowe—a shrewd scoundrel. It’s because I respect his talents that I’ve taken so much pains to look him up! Possibly you won’t hear from him at all; then again, you may. I’ve given some study to the peculiar moral nature of persons like Harlowe, and I won’t deny that it would please me to have a chance at him—though, of course, Mr. Thurston would be quite as competent to deal with the case as I am. My aim would be to get rid of him quietly, perhaps by methods that wouldn’t appeal to Mr. Thurston. Please listen to him carefully, if he should come to you. Concede nothing, but let him go as far as he will. That’s all, I think. Pardon me if I look at my watch.”
“It’s very kind of you to warn me,” she said, with feeling. “It’s horrible to know there are people plotting against you in the dark. I was ashamed of myself for yielding as I did when that man came to me; I knew right away that I had made a mistake.”
“Well, as our friend Mr. Amidon would remark, forget it! forget it! We all make mistakes. I wish I had never made a worse one than that little slip of yours,” he added kindly.