“’Twas there I saw this man Merrick,” McCabe was saying in conclusion.  “I heard him questioning the maid about Mr. Mainwaring’s interview with the woman; he evidently was onto that.  I saw the girl myself shortly afterwards and gave her a hint and a bit of money to keep her mouth shut about Mr. Mainwaring.  She seemed pretty bright, and I think she will understand her business.”

“Confound that meddlesome Yankee! what was he prowling around there for?” interrupted Mr. Scott, angrily.  “He has no business prying into Harold Scott Mainwaring’s affairs, and I’ll have him understand it; let him attend to his own duties, and I think, from all reports, he will have his hands more than full then.  Mr. Sutherland,” he continued, addressing the attorney, “there’s no knowing what that beastly bungler who calls himself a detective will do next; this thing is likely to be out in the morning papers with the boy’s name mixed up in it, and it must be stopped right here.  His name must be kept out of this at any price, and you probably can reach the New York press better than any one of us.”

“You are right,” said Mr. Sutherland, rising hastily and preparing to leave; “our client wants no notoriety of that sort; and I will make sure that nothing of the kind occurs.  I have a friend who has unlimited influence with the newspaper men, and I will have him attend to the matter at once, and see to it that everything of that nature is suppressed.”

“That is best,” said Harold Mainwaring gravely, coming forward.  “I would have rendered the woman any necessary assistance; I am willing to do whatever is needful now, but, living or dead, her name shall never be coupled with my father’s name and mine.”

“You understand, of course, that money is no object in this matter,” added Mr. Scott.

“I understand perfectly, sir,” said the attorney, courteously; “everything will be attended to; and, Mr. Barton, you will kindly confer with Mr. McCabe, and I will see you in the morning regarding your final decision.  Good-night, gentlemen.”

An hour later, McCabe took his departure.  Of his own theories or plans he had said little more than that he was to leave the Waldorf that night for another part of the city, but all details for communication with him in case of necessity had been carefully arranged.

“Your ‘clerk’ has been suddenly called to London on important business,” he said to Mr. Barton, with a quiet smile, adding, “You may meet me occasionally, but it’s not likely or best that you recognize me, and when I have anything to report you will hear from me,” and with these words he was gone.

When at last Harold Mainwaring and his foster-father were again by themselves, the latter, noting the younger man’s abstraction, said,-

“This is naturally a great shock to you, my boy, but it is only what might be expected after such a life as hers.  You have done nothing for which to censure yourself; you have done all that could be done under existing conditions, and more than was actually required of you; so you need have no regrets over the affair.”