Mr. Whitney, watching the effect of his words, suddenly saw an expression totally unlike anything he had ever seen on the face of the secretary, and yet strangely familiar.

Scott turned and faced him, with eyes cold and cynical and that seemed to pierce him through and through, remarking, in tones of quiet irony, “I am greatly obliged for your advice, Mr. Whitney, regarding my interests, but it is not needed.  Furthermore, I think all your thought and attention will be required to look after the interests of Ralph Mainwaring,” and without waiting for reply, he stepped through one of the low, old-fashioned windows opening upon the veranda and disappeared, leaving the attorney alone.

“By George, but that was cool!” ejaculated the latter.  “And that look; where have I seen it?  I believe that Ralph Mainwaring is more than half right after all, and there is something back of all this!”

So absorbed was he in his own reflections as to be wholly unaware of the presence of the detective in the hall, near the doorway, where he had paused long enough to witness the parting between Scott and the attorney, and who now passed quietly up-stairs, remarking to himself, “Whitney is pretty sharp, but he’s more than got his match there.  That young fellow is too deep for him or any of the rest of ’em, and he’s likely to come out where they least expect to find him.”

Half an hour later, Mr. Merrick, stepping from the private library into the upper southern hall, heard the sound of voices, which, from his familiarity with the rooms, he knew must proceed from Mrs. LaGrange’s parlor.  He cautiously descended the stairs to the lowest landing, in which was a deep window.  The shutters were tightly closed, and, concealing himself behind the heavy curtains, he awaited developments.  He was now directly opposite the door of the parlor, and through the partially open transom he could hear the imperious tones of Mrs. LaGrange and the soft, insinuating accents of Hobson.  For a while he was unable to distinguish a word, but the variations in Hobson’s tones indicated that he was not seated, but walking back and forth, while Mrs. LaGrange’s voice betrayed intense excitement and gradually grew louder.

“You are not altogether invulnerable,” Merrick heard her say, angrily.  “You were an accessory in that affair, and you cannot deny it?”

Hobson evidently had paused near the door, as his reply was distinctly audible.  “You have not an atom of proof; as you well know; and even if you had, our acquaintance, my dear madam, has been too long and of too intimate a nature for you to care to attempt any of your little tricks with me.  You play a deep game, my lady, but I hold the winning hand yet.”

“If you are dastardly enough to threaten me, I am not such a coward as to fear you.  I have played my cards better than you know,” she answered, defiantly.

“My dear lady,” Hobson replied, and the door-knob turned slightly under his hand, “those little speeches sound very well, but we both understand each other perfectly.  You want my services in this case; you must have them; and I am willing to render them; but it is useless for you to dictate terms to me.  I will undertake the case in accordance with your wishes, but only upon the conditions mentioned.”