"Not legally."
"Enough inculpated to serve my purpose."
"If you think that," said the Judge, "I can only repeat the offer I made you when I called here before."
Luke smiled.
"And I can only refuse it."
"Mr. Huber," the Judge began again, "the man is dead——"
Luke's nerves had been strained for many a day. He leaped to his feet.
"Of course the man's dead!" he cried. "He was dead this morning, and he's still dead. Why do you keep saying that over and over? I'm tired of hearing it." He saw the look of pain return. "I beg your pardon," he said; "but I might as well tell you first and last that I won't surrender those letters, no matter what you plead or threaten. I won't tell you what I intend to do with them, either. And the only reason I know that they must be of use to me is your coming here and saying they aren't any use."
The Judge rose also.
"Mr. Huber," said he, "I am very sorry to hear you speak this way. I can't tell you how sorry I am. You ought to know by this time——"