"You heard what I said," she answered.
The old man leaned farther forward.
"So!" he cried; "so! I am not only doing you an injustice, but I
am a thief! Mr. Winthrop," he cried appealingly, "do you
appreciate the seriousness of this?"
Winthrop nodded cheerfully. "It's certainly pretty serious," he
assented.
"It is so serious," cried Mr. Hallowell, "that I welcome you
into this matter. Now, we will settle it once and forever." He
turned to his niece. "I have tried to be generous," he cried; "I
have tried to be kind, and you insult me in my own house." He
pressed the button that summoned the butler from the floor
below. "Gentlemen, this interview is at an end. From now on this
matter is in the hands of my lawyer. We will settle this in the
courts."
With an exclamation of pleasure that was an acceptance of his
challenge, Miss Coates rose.
"That is satisfactory to me," she said. Winthrop turned to Mr.
Hallowell.
"Could I have a few minutes talk with Judge Gaylor now?" he
asked. "Not as anybody's counsel," he explained; "just as an old
enemy of his?"
"Well, not here," protested the old man querulously. "I'm -- I'm
expecting some friends here. Judge, take Mr. Winthrop to the
drawing room downstairs." He turned to Garrett, who had appeared
in answer to his summons, and told him to bring Dr. Rainey to
the library. The butler left the room and, as Gaylor and
Winthrop followed, the latter asked Miss Coates if he might
expect to see her at the "Office.
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