“Who’s that?  Judge Stott?  Tell him I’m too busy to see anyone.  What’s that?  A man’s life at stake?  What’s that to do with me?  Tell him—­”

On hearing Stott’s name, Shirley nearly betrayed herself.  She turned pale and half-started up from her chair.  Something serious must have happened to bring her father’s legal adviser to the Ryder residence at such an hour!  She thought he was in Washington.  Could it be that the proceedings in the Senate were ended and the result known?  She could hardly conceal her anxiety, and instinctively she placed her hand on Ryder’s arm.

“No, Mr. Ryder, do see Judge Stott!  You must see him.  I know who he is.  Your son has told me.  Judge Stott is one of Judge Rossmore’s advisers.  See him.  You may find out something about the girl.  You may find out where she is.  If Jefferson finds out you have refused to see her father’s friend at such a critical time it will only make him sympathize more deeply with the Rossmores, and you know sympathy is akin to love.  That’s what you want to avoid, isn’t it?”

Ryder still held the telephone, hesitating what to do.  What she said sounded like good sense.

“Upon my word—­” he said.  “You may be right and yet—­”

“Am I to help you or not?” demanded Shirley.  “You said you wanted a woman’s wit.”

“Yes,” said Ryder, “but still—­”

“Then you had better see him,” she said emphatically.

Ryder turned to the telephone.

“Hello, Jorkins, are you there?  Show Judge Stott up here.”  He laid the receiver down and turned again to Shirley.  “That’s one thing I don’t like about you,” he said.  “I allow you to decide against me and then I agree with you.”  She said nothing and he went on looking at her admiringly.  “I predict that you’ll bring that boy to your feet within a month.  I don’t know why, but I seem to feel that he is attracted to you already.  Thank Heaven! you haven’t a lot of troublesome relations.  I think you said you were almost alone in the world.  Don’t look so serious,” he added laughing.  “Jeff is a fine fellow, and believe me an excellent catch as the world goes.”

Shirley raised her hand as if entreating him to desist.

“Oh, don’t—­don’t—­please!  My position is so false!  You don’t know how false it is!” she cried.

At that instant the library door was thrown open and the butler appeared, ushering in Stott.  The lawyer looked anxious, and his dishevelled appearance indicated that he had come direct from the train.  Shirley scanned his face narrowly in the hope that she might read there what had happened.  He walked right past her, giving no sign of recognition, and advanced direct towards Ryder, who had risen and remained standing at his desk.

“Perhaps I had better go?” ventured Shirley, although tortured by anxiety to hear the news from Washington.

“No,” said Ryder quickly, “Judge Stott will detain me but a very few moments.”