Paula did not believe her eyes. She could hardly have been more startled if she had seen a dead man suddenly come back to life. Here she had been busy making plans to go and console him in prison, and he walked in!
The lawyer's face was pale and serious, and his manner . Certainly he had gone through an experience unpleasant enough to upset any man. The enemy had made a trap for him, and, like a fool, he had walked into it blindly. Arrested on an absurd charge while trying to raise more funds to carry on the case, he had been subjected to the most and , no doubt at the suggestion of the wily Mr. Cooley himself. Of course, he had no difficulty whatever in making an explanation so satisfactory that the Court at once dismissed the case, but then it was too late. The was done. The reporters had the story, and the yellow extras with their exaggerated "scare heads" were already their way all over town. Who was responsible for this new ? Who was it that had informed Mr Cooley that he was trying to borrow money in order to engage the legal services of ex-Senator Wratchett? To Paula alone he had his plans. No, there was still another. Yes, he remembered it now. He had spoken of his intentions in the presence of Mr. Chase, the last time the young man had called at the house. No doubt he had betrayed them.
Disregarding Tod's presence, the lawyer advanced quickly towards Paula.
"Pardon my coming up without being announced," he said. "But I heard Mr. Chase was here, and I came straight in."
Paula's face lit up with pleasure. Hurrying forward and extending both her hands, she cried:
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you! We were just going to—to—the prison. Tell me how—when—did you——"
The attorney halted and to Tod.
"First," he said , "dismiss that gentleman! While he is here I can say nothing."
Paula, surprised, looked from one to the other.
"Why," she exclaimed, "Mr. Chase is here to help us! He came with the news of your arrest, and he was going with me to get for you. He's our friend!"
"He is not your friend," retorted the lawyer indignantly. "Every word you utter, every action, every detail of your conversation, no matter how petty, is reported faithfully to Mr. Cooley—by this man."
Tod looked at Paula.
"Do you believe that?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"How else are they acquainted with all that happens here?" demanded Ricaby, trying to control his temper. Turning on Tod, he went on angrily: "You have called here almost every day, you've talked to Mrs. Parkes, to young Parkes; you've played the spy under of friendship—and you can't deny it."
The young man his shoulders.
"You're quite right, Mr. Ricaby," he said calmly. "There are some things that a man can't stoop to deny, and this is one of them."
"Then how can I explain it?" demanded the lawyer. "They knew that I was trying to raise money." Turning to Paula, he added: "They know of your engagement to young Parkes."
"There is no engagement," interrupted Paula quietly.
Mr. Ricaby looked searchingly at her as if trying to read what was in her thoughts. Then he went on:
"They know of your intention to fight your uncle's to the bitter end. They know your nervous condition. They know everything—even the fact that Dr. Zacharie comes here."
"I'm not surprised at that," exclaimed Paula. "I believe he was sent here by my uncle purposely to annoy and frighten me. He came here again to-day, but I got rid of him. I don't think he will come again so soon."
The lawyer grew thoughtful, then suddenly, as if a new idea had suddenly flashed into his mind he exclaimed:
"Ah! he did, eh? I don't like that man coming here so often. There is something in the wind. I don't know what. I intended to warn you."
He stopped for a moment, and then, looking at Tod, he said apologetically:
"The fact is, we hardly know friend from . I may be doing Mr. Chase a serious . If so, I beg his pardon. We are fighting in the dark. We're fighting men without conscience or principle. We can't trust anyone. We dare not."
Paula turned to Tod.
"Will you give us your word?" she said, with an encouraging smile.
The young man looked at her reproachfully as he shook his head:
"No," he said, "that means you have some doubt. No, Miss , I won't give my word. It shouldn't be necessary. I guess I'll go. You're all right, Mr. Ricaby, you're doing your best, but you get . You lose your head and you bark up the wrong tree. I guess that's where Cooley doubled up on you." Reaching the door, he turned round: "I'm sorry you don't believe me, Miss Marsh. I'll do all I can for you, but you're kinder tying my hands. Good day, Mr. Ricaby—good-bye, Miss Marsh, and good luck to you."
"Oh, don't go, Mr. Chase," exclaimed Paula, going towards him. "I don't believe——"
"Yes, I guess I'd better go," he replied , "he's your counsel. Good-bye!"
The door closed behind him. He was gone. Mr. Ricaby turned to the girl:
"Paula," he said earnestly, "we must trust no one. They won't stop at anything, as you see. They even had me arrested on a ridiculous charge. I was trying to borrow money—to carry on this case—to engage ex-Senator Wratchett. Mr. Chase knew this, didn't he?"
"Yes."
"You see, he knows everything. I'm afraid he's a spy."
The girl shook her head. She was too good a judge of human nature to be so easily deceived.
"I can't believe it," she said quietly. "I don't believe it."
"At all events," said the lawyer, "we dare not risk taking him into our confidence any more. Listen, I've raised the money, and I'm going to see Wratchett to-night."
"Why did they arrest you?"
"Because I overlooked the formality of having a certificate of shares over to me. As soon as I could get word to my friend, who loaned me the securities, he came down and the released me at once, but the of arrest, of accusation, of prison, is there. That's what Cooley wants—to me in court. Cooley knows that if he throws enough mud some of it is bound to stick."
The young girl made a gesture of discouragement. Sinking down in a chair at the table, she said wearily:
"Oh, I'm so tired of it all. Let's give it up, Mr. Ricaby. Let's go to my uncle and make the best bargain we can. I was hasty before. I'll be more patient this time."[Pg 204]
The lawyer shook his head.
"Now that I have the sinews of war?" he cried. "No! We'll win out; you'll see. They must be pretty desperate when they resort to such tactics as false arrest. No, by God! I'm going to stick to them now."
Paula walked to the window, and, drawing aside the curtain, gazed thoughtfully into the street below.
"Isn't there some way out of it?" she demanded. "If, for instance, I married—my husband——"
The lawyer started, choked back something that rose in his throat, and hesitatingly said:
"No, you must obtain the consent of the Court or of your . It would make new complications, application of annulment—oh, innumerable opportunities to you. No—I—I am opposed to the idea of marriage, Paula."
"I hope you don't think that I have Mr. Parkes in mind?" she smiled.
"Pshaw!" he exclaimed impatiently. "Do you suppose I pay any attention to that old woman's idle ? I don't know whom you have in your mind, but I have too much respect for your intelligence to imagine for a moment that it is Mr. Parkes."
He stopped and looked wistfully at her. Did he dare reveal to this girl what had been so long in his heart? At last, summoning up courage, he said in a low, diffident tone:
"If I could only think that it was I——"
Startled, she looked at him in . , he went on:
"There! I have spoken at last, Paula, after all these years. I didn't intend to say anything. This is no time to speak of such matters, but——"
Eagerly he scanned her delicate and sensitive face, trying to read there some response that would satisfy his , but her manner was grave and her voice calm and passionless, as she answered :
"I had no idea that you thought of me in that way. I am sorry, Mr. Ricaby. I have regarded you as a life-long friend—nothing more. I can never forget what you have done for me. I shall always be grateful for your friendship and untiring devotion. That I can never repay."
Chilled, the lawyer drew back . There was no mistaking that indifferent, matter-of-fact tone. Bitterly he said:
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