Having delivered himself of this delicate hint, he looked towards his visitor as if inviting him to come to the point as rapidly as possible.

“I must apologize for intruding at this unseemly hour, sir,” said Stott, “but time is precious.  The Senate meets to-morrow to vote.  If anything is to be done for Judge Rossmore it must be done to-night.”

“I fail to see why you address yourself to me in this matter, sir,” replied Ryder with asperity.

“As Judge Rossmore’s friend and counsel,” answered Stott, “I am impelled to ask your help at this critical moment.”

“The matter is in the hands of the United States Senate, sir,” replied Ryder coldly.

“They are against him!” cried Stott; “not one senator I’ve spoken to holds out any hope for him.  If he is convicted it will mean his death.  Inch by inch his life is leaving him.  The only thing that can save him is the good news of the Senate’s refusal to find him guilty.”

Stott was talking so excitedly and loudly that neither he nor Ryder heard the low moan that came from the corner of the room where Shirley was standing listening.

“I can do nothing,” repeated Ryder coldly, and he turned his back and began to examine some papers lying on his desk as if to notify the caller that the interview was ended.  But Stott was not so easily discouraged.  He went on: 

“As I understand it, they will vote on strictly party lines, and the party in power is against him.  He’s a marked man.  You have the power to help him.”  Heedless of Ryder’s gesture of impatience he continued:  “When I left his bedside to-night, sir, I promised to return to him with good news; I have told him that the Senate ridicules the charges against him.  I must return to him with good news.  He is very ill to-night, sir.”  He halted for a moment and glanced in Shirley’s direction, and slightly raising his voice so she might hear, he added:  “If he gets worse we shall send for his daughter.”

“Where is his daughter?” demanded Ryder, suddenly interested.

“She is working in her father’s interests,” replied Stott, and, he added significantly, “I believe with some hope of success.”

He gave Shirley a quick, questioning look.  She nodded affirmatively.  Ryder, who had seen nothing of this by-play, said with a sneer: 

“Surely you didn’t come here to-night to tell me this?”

“No, sir, I did not.”  He took from his pocket two letters—­the two which Shirley had sent him—­and held them out for Ryder’s inspection.  “These letters from Judge Rossmore to you,” he said, “show you to be acquainted with the fact that he bought those shares as an investment—­and did not receive them as a bribe.”

When he caught sight of the letters and he realized what they were, Ryder changed colour.  Instinctively his eyes sought the drawer on the left-hand side of his desk.  In a voice that was unnaturally calm, he asked: