“Shall I enter the lady’s name in the address book?” inquired Miss Wiggin coldly as he went out to get a bite of lunch.

Tutt hesitated.

“Mrs. Georgie Allison is her name,” he said in a detached sort of way.

“Address?”

Tutt felt in his waistcoat pocket.

“By George!” he muttered, “I didn’t take it.  But her telephone number is Lincoln Square 9187.”

To chronicle the details of Tutt’s second blooming would be needlessly to derogate from the dignity of the history of Tutt & Tutt.  There is a silly season in the life of everyone—­even of every lawyer—­who can call himself a man, and out of such silliness comes the gravity of knowledge.  Tutt found it necessary for his new client to come to the office almost every day, and as she usually arrived about the noon hour what was more natural than that he should invite her out to lunch?  Twice he walked home with her.  The telephone was busy constantly.  And the only thorn in the rose of Tutt’s delirious happiness was the fear lest Abigail might discover something.  The thought gave him many an anxious hour, cost him several sleepless nights.  At times this nervousness about his wife almost exceeded the delight of having Mrs. Allison for a friend.  Yet each day he became on more and more cordial terms with her, and the lunches became longer and more intimate.

The Reverend Winthrop Oaklander gave no sign of life, however.  The customary barrage of legal letters had been laid down, but without eliciting any response.  The Reverend Winthrop must be a wise one, opined Tutt, and he began to have a hearty contempt as well as hatred for his quarry.  The first letter had been the usual vague hint that the clergyman might and probably would find it to his advantage to call at the offices of Tutt & Tutt, and so on.  The Reverend Winthrop, however did not seem to care to secure said advantage whatever it might be.  The second epistle gave the name of the client and proposed a friendly discussion of her affairs.  No reply.  The third hinted at legal proceedings.  Total silence.  The fourth demanded ten thousand dollars damages and threatened immediate suit.

In answer to this last appeared the Reverend Winthrop himself.  He was a fine-looking young chap with a clear eye—­almost as blue as Georgie’s—­and a skin even pinker than hers, and he stood six feet five in his Oxfords and his fist looked to Tutt as big as a coconut.

“Are you the blackmailer who’s been writing me those letters?” he demanded, springing into Tutt’s office.  “If you are, let me tell you something.  You’ve got hold of the wrong monkey.  I’ve been dealing with fellows of your variety ever since I got out of the seminary.  I don’t know the lady you pretend to represent, and I never heard of her.  If I get any more letters from you I’ll go down and lay the case before the district attorney; and if he doesn’t put you in jail I’ll come up here and knock your head off.  Understand?  Good day!”