“I say, Mr. Whitney, what sort of a man is this attorney, Sutherland?  Is he another Hobson?”

Mr. Whitney shook his head significantly.  “Mr. Sutherland is one of the ablest men in his profession.  I consider him a fine jurist, an eloquent pleader, and a perfect gentleman.  I had some conversation with him after court adjourned, and while he, of course, stated no details, he gave me to understand that his client had a strong case.  He also informed me that Barton & Barton, of London, had been retained in the case, and that his client would be accompanied to this country by the junior member of the firm, Alfred Barton.”

“By Jove, that looks bad for us!” ejaculated young Mainwaring, while his father exclaimed, impatiently,-

“Barton & Barton?  Impossible! that is mere bombast!  Why, man, the Bartons, father and sons, have been the family solicitors of the Mainwarings for the past fifty years.  The old firm of Barton & Sons had charge of the settlement of the estate when it passed into Hugh Mainwaring’s possession at the death of his father.”

“So I had understood,” said the attorney; “I have heard Mr. Mainwaring himself speak of them.”

“And,” continued the other, “only a few days before sailing for America, I called at their chambers in London and told them of Hugh’s intentions regarding my son and received their congratulations.  Now, sir, do you mean to tell me, in the face of all this, that Barton & Barton are retained by this mushroom claimant, whoever he is?  Pooh! preposterous!”

Mr. Whitney shook his head slowly.  “Mr. Sutherland is not the man to make any misstatements or allow himself to be misinformed.  All I have to say is, if those attorneys are retained in the case, it certainly looks as though our opponent must have some tenable ground in support of his claim.  I am inclined to think they will make us a hard fight, but I am confident that we will win in the end.  The main point is this:  we must be prepared to meet them on whatever ground they may take, and, after hearing their side and the proof they set up, we can easily determine our line of defence.”

“To the deuce with your line of defence!  I tell you, Whitney, there is just one point to be maintained, and, by my soul, it shall be maintained at any cost!” and the speaker emphasized his words by bringing his clinched hand down upon a table beside him with terrific force “that point is this:  Harold Scott Mainwaring never had a living, lawful son; no such person exists, or ever has existed on the face of the earth, and I can prove what I say.”

“Have you absolute proof of that?” Mr. Whitney inquired, quickly.