Mr. Whitney glanced at his companion, but the latter seemed engrossed with his own thoughts and made no reply.

“I never was so completely floored in my life,” the attorney continued, “as when it came out that Harold Mainwaring was her son; and I yet fail to see the necessity for introducing that feature into the testimony.  I should have thought that would have been passed over in silence.”

“As near as I can judge from reading of the case,” Merrick replied, “it seems to have been done with a purpose.  His attorneys were leading up to that very point in such a manner that, when the climax was reached, she would involuntarily betray herself — as she did — thus confirming in the strongest manner the testimony already given.”

“I believe you may be right,” said the attorney, musingly, “though it had not occurred to me.”

After a short pause, Merrick continued:  “When I was first called to Fair Oaks, I suspected some relationship between that woman and the secretary, as he was then called; there was a marked resemblance between them; both had the same peculiar olive skin, while their features and carriage were almost identical.”

“Yes, I recall your mentioning the likeness to me, and at the same time I was puzzled by the resemblance between him and Hugh Mainwaring.  Well, I always said he was a mystery, and no wonder!”

They had reached the club-house by this time, and, as Merrick declined Mr. Whitney’s invitation to enter, both men remained outside for a few moments.  Once again, the attorney endeavored to sound the detective regarding his work and the progress he was making, but the latter suddenly became strangely uncommunicative.

“My client is going to charge Harold Mainwaring with the murder,” said the attorney at last.

Merrick laughed scornfully, and for the second time that evening wheeled abruptly and turned down a side street, leaving Mr. Whitney standing upon the club-house steps, watching the rapidly retreating figure with mingled vexation and amusement.

“Something has upset Merrick,” he soliloquized, as he finally turned towards the entrance; “who can he imagine is ‘dogging’ his tracks, as he terms it?  These detectives seem about as jealous of their reputation as we lawyers are supposed to be.  Ralph Mainwaring is going to engage ‘the best legal talent that money can get!’ H’m! when he comes to settle, he may find that my ‘legal talent’ will come just as high as the best of them.”

Could Mr. Whitney have been present at a conference held that evening in one of the private parlors of the Waldorf, he might have had a better understanding of the cause of Merrick’s perturbation.

Immediately upon returning to the hotel, Harold Mainwaring had communicated to the English attorney and to Mr. Scott the particulars of his interview with Mrs. LaGrange.  Mr. Scott at once expressed his satisfaction at the outcome, in that she had rejected all offers of assistance except upon her own terms.