A moment later, she heard a stealthy, cat-like tread in the corridor outside, followed by a low, peculiar tap at the door, and Hobson entered.

She crossed the room slowly, keeping her face in the shadow, and, motioning him to a chair, seated herself opposite, watching him narrowly.

“You are late,” she said, coldly, in response to his greeting.

“Admitted, my lady,” he replied, in his usual unctuous tones, “but I naturally wished to ascertain all the facts possible regarding this new deal, and, seeing Whitney nosing about on the trail, I decided to remain within ear-shot and pick up what information I could second-hand.”

“What did you learn?”

“Nothing very definite, and yet enough, perhaps, to give us our cue until further developments.  My dear lady, what do you think of this new turn of affairs?”

“The whole thing is simply preposterous; a piece of the most consummate audacity I ever dreamed of!”

“Ha!  I thought it would strike you as particularly nervy.  It is the most daring bit of invention I have seen for some time; and it must be a pretty cleverly concocted scheme and pretty well backed with the ducats also, for I learned to-night that the ‘heir,’” laying special emphasis on the word, “has secured the services of Barton & Barton, and those birds are too old to be caught with chaff; besides, you know as well as I the part that firm has taken in the Mainwaring affairs.”

“Barton & Barton?  Incredible!  The case is hopeless then for Ralph Mainwaring:  he is a fool if he expects to win.”

“Just what I was leading up to.  Whitney is no match even for this man, Sutherland, and he will be a mere child in the hands of the Bartons.  Now, the question is, where do we come in?  As you say, Ralph Mainwaring’s case is hopeless, unless — " and he looked significantly at his client.

“I do not think I quite catch the drift of your meaning,” she answered, slowly.

“Has it not occurred to you that there are not two people in existence who can so quickly tear to shreds the scheme of this impostor as you and I?  There is not a human being living outside of myself who knows the real facts concerning that will; and who could give such effective and convincing testimony regarding Harold Mainwaring’s son as yourself?”

“Admitting all this, what do you propose?”

“When Ralph Mainwaring has staked his highest card and finds that the game is irrevocably lost, what will he not give at the last critical moment for assistance such as we can then furnish him?”

“And which course would you pursue in that event?” she asked, a tinge of irony in her tone.  “Would you deny that such a will ever existed in face of whatever evidence may be brought forward in its support? or would you admit being a party to the destruction of the will?”