"You have no defence in law."
"But there must be a defence somewhere!" said Rufus drawing himself up, with the whole spirit of the common law apparently within him, energizing the movement.
"The only hope of relief would be in the equity courts."
"How there?" said Rufus.
Winthrop hesitated.
"A plea of fraud — alleging that Mr. Haye has overreached you, putting off upon you goods which he knew to be worthless."
"To be sure he did!" said Rufus. "Knew it as well as he does now. It was nothing but a fraud. An outrageous fraud!"
Winthrop made no answer, and the brothers paused again, each in his meditations. Winnie, passing her eyes from one to the other, thought Winthrop looked as if his were very grave.
"I depend upon you, Governor," the elder brother said more quietly.
"To do what?"