Griggswouldhavearguedthematter。\"Idon\'tseeanyeasierwaytogethalfamillion，\"hesaidaggressively。
Mary，however，wasunimpressed。
\"Ifitwerefiftymillions，itwouldmakenodifference。It\'sagainstthelaw。\"
\"Oh，Iknowallthat，ofcourse，\"Griggsreturnedimpatiently。
\"Butifyoucan——\"
Maryinterruptedhiminatoneoffinality。
\"MyfriendsandIneverdoanythingthat\'sillegal!Thankyouforcomingtous，Mr。Griggs，butwecan\'tgoin，andthere\'sanendofthematter。\"
\"Butwaitaminute，\"EnglishEddieexpostulated，\"youseethischap，Gilder，is——\"
Mary\'smannerchangedfromindifferencetosuddenkeeninterest。
\"Gilder？\"sheexclaimed，questioningly。
\"Yes。Youknowwhoheis，\"Griggsanswered；\"thedrygoodsman。\"
GarsoninhisturnshowedanewexcitementashebenttowardMary。
\"Why，it\'soldGilder，themanyou——\"
Mary，however，hadregainedherself-control，foramomentrudelyshaken，andnowhervoicewastranquilagainasshereplied:
\"Iknow。But，justthesame，it\'sillegal，andIwon\'ttouchit。
That\'sallthereistoit。\"
Griggswasdismayed。
\"Buthalfamillion!\"heexclaimed，disconsolately。\"There\'sastakeworthplayingfor。Thinkofit!\"HeturnedpleadinglytoGarson。\"Halfamillion，Joe!\"
Theforgerrepeatedthewordswithaninflectionthatwasgloating。
\"Halfamillion!\"
\"Andit\'sthesoftestthingyoueversaw。\"
Thetelephoneatthedeskrang，andMaryspokeintoitforamoment，thenroseandexcusedherselftoresumetheconversationoverthewiremoreprivatelyinthebooth。Theinstantshewasoutoftheroom，GriggsturnedtoGarsonanxiously。
\"It\'sacinch，Joe，\"hepleaded。\"I\'vegotaplanofthehouse。\"
Hedrewapaperfromhisbreast-pocket，andhandedittotheforger，whoseizeditavidlyandstudieditwithintent，avariciouseyes。
\"Itlookseasy，\"Garsonagreed，ashegavebackthepaper。
\"Itiseasy，\"Griggsreiterated。\"Whatdoyousay？\"
Garsonshookhisheadinrefusal，buttherewasnoconvictionintheact。
\"IpromisedMaryneverto——\"
Griggsbrokeinonhim。
\"Butachancelikethis!Anyhow，comearoundtothebackroomatBlinkey\'sto-night，andwe\'llhaveatalk。Willyou？\"
\"Whattime？\"Garsonaskedhesitatingly，tempted。
\"Makeitearly，saynine，\"wastheanswer。\"Willyou？\"
\"I\'llcome，\"Garsonreplied，half-guiltily。AndinthesamemomentMaryreentered。
Griggsroseandspokewithanairofregret。
\"It\'s\'followtheleader，\'\"hesaid，\"andsinceyouareagainstit，thatsettlesit。\"
\"Yes，I\'magainstit，\"Marysaid，firmly。
\"I\'msorry，\"EnglishEddierejoined。\"Butwemustallplaythegameasweseeit……Well，thatwasthebusinessIwasafter，and，asit\'sfinished，why，good-afternoon，MissTurner。\"HenoddedtowardJoe，andtookhisdeparture。
SomethingofwhatwasinhismindwasrevealedinGarson\'sfirstspeechafterGriggs\'sgoing。
\"That\'samightybigstakehe\'splayingfor。\"
\"Andabigchancehe\'staking!\"Maryretorted。\"No，Joe，wedon\'twantanyofthat。We\'llplayagamethat\'ssafeandsure。\"
Thewordsrecalledtotheforgerweirdforebodingsthathadbeentroublinghimthroughouttheday。
\"It\'ssureenough，\"hestated，\"butisitsafe？\"
Marylookedupquickly。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"shedemanded。
Garsonwalkedtoandfronervouslyasheanswered。
\"S\'posethebullsgettiredofyouputtingitoveron\'emandtrysomeroughwork？\"
Marysmiledcarelessly。
\"Don\'tworry，Joe，\"sheadvised。\"Iknowawaytostopit。\"
\"Well，sofarasthatgoes，sodoI，\"theforgersaid，withsignificantemphasis。
\"Justwhatdoyoumeanbythat？\"Marydemanded，suspiciously。
\"Forroughwork，\"hesaid，\"Ihavethis。\"Hetookamagazinepistolfromhispocket。Itwasofanoddshape，withabarrellongerthanisusualandabell-shapedcontrivanceattachedtothemuzzle。
\"No，no，Joe，\"Marycried，greatlydiscomposed。\"Noneofthat——ever!\"
Theforgersmiled，andtherewasmalignanttriumphinhisexpression。
\"Pooh!\"heexclaimed。\"EvenifIusedit，theywouldnevergetontome。Seethis？\"Hepointedatthestrangecontrivanceonthemuzzle。
Mary\'scuriositymadeherforgetforamomentherdistaste。
\"Whatisit？\"sheasked，interestedly。\"Ihaveneverseenanythinglikethatbefore。\"
\"Ofcourseyouhaven\'t，\"Garsonansweredwithmuchpride。\"I\'mthefirstmaninthebusinesstogetone，andI\'llbetonit。I
keepupwiththetimes。\"Foronce，hewasrevealingthatfundamentalegotismwhichisthecharacteristicofallhiskind。
\"That\'soneofthenewMaximsilencers，\"hecontinued。\"Withsmokelesspowderinthecartridges，andthesilenceron，Icanmakeashotfrommycoat-pocket，andyouwouldn\'tevenknowithadbeendone……AndI\'msomeshot，believeme。\"
\"Impossible!\"Maryejaculated。
\"No，itain\'t，\"themanasserted。\"Here，wait，I\'llshowyou。\"
\"Goodgracious，nothere!\"Maryexclaimedinalarm。\"Wewouldhavethewholeplacedownonus。\"
Garsonchuckled。
\"Youjustwatchthatdinkylittlevaseonthetableacrosstheroomthere。\'Tain\'tveryvaluable，isit？\"
\"No，\"Maryanswered。
Inthesameinstant，whilestillhereyeswereonthevase，itfellinacascadeofshiveredglasstothetableandfloor。Shehadheardnosound，shesawnosmoke。Perhaps，therehadbeenafaintestclickingnoise。Shewasnotsure。Shestareddumfoundedforafewseconds，thenturnedherbewilderedfacetowardGarson，whowasgrinninginhighenjoyment。
\"Iwould\'nthavebelieveditpossible，\"shedeclared，vastlyimpressed。
\"Neatlittlething，ain\'tit？\"themanasked，exultantly。
\"Wheredidyougetit？\"Maryasked。
\"InBoston，lastweek。Andbetweenyouandme，Mary，it\'stheonlymodel，anditsureisacorkerforcrime。\"
ThesinisterassociationofideasmadeMaryshudder，butshesaidnomore。Shewouldhaveshudderedagain，ifshecouldhaveguessedthevitalpartthatpistolwasdestinedtoplay。Butshehadnothoughtofanyactualperiltocomefromit。Shemighthavethoughtotherwise，couldshehaveknownofthemeetingthatnightinthebackroomofBlinkey\'s，whereEnglishEddieandGarsonsatwiththeirheadsclosetogetheroveratable。
\"Achancelikethis，\"Griggswassaying，\"achancethatwillmakeafortuneforallofus。\"
\"Itsoundsgood，\"Garsonadmitted，wistfully。
\"Itisgood，\"theotherdeclaredwithanoath。\"Why，ifthisgoesthrough，we\'resetupforlife。Wecanquit，allofus。\"
\"Yes，\"Garsonagreed，\"wecanquit，allofus。\"Therewasavariceinhisvoice。
Thetempterwassurethatthebattlewaswon，andsmiledcontentedly。
\"Well，\"heurged，\"whatdoyousay？\"
\"Howwouldwesplitit？\"ItwasplainthatGarsonhadgivenoverthestruggleagainstgreed。Afterall，Marywasonlyawoman，despitehercleverness，andwithallawoman\'stimidity。Herewassportformen。
\"Threewayswouldberight，\"Griggsanswered。\"Onetome，onetoyouandonetobedividedupamongtheothers。\"
Garsonbroughthisfistdownonthetablewithaforcethatmadetheglassesjingle。
\"You\'reon，\"hesaid，strongly。
\"Fine!\"Griggsdeclared，andthetwomenshookhands。\"Now，I\'llget——\"
\"Getnothing!\"Garsoninterrupted。\"I\'llgetmyownmen。
ChicagoRedisintown。SoisDacey，withperhapsacoupleofothersoftherightsort。I\'llgetthemtomeetyouatBlinkey\'sattwoto-morrowafternoon，and，ifitlooksright，we\'llturnthetrickto-morrownight。\"
\"That\'sthestuff，\"Griggsagreed，greatlypleased。
ButasuddenshadowfellonthefaceofGarson。Hebentclosertohiscompanion，andspokewithafierceintensitythatbrookednodenial。
\"Shemustneverknow。\"
Griggsnoddedunderstandingly。
\"Ofcourse，\"heanswered。\"IgiveyoumywordthatI\'llnevertellher。Andyouknowyoucantrustme，Joe。\"
\"Yes，\"theforgerrepliedsomberly，\"IknowIcantrustyou。\"
Buttheshadowdidnotliftfromhisface。
CHAPTERXIV。AWEDDINGANNOUNCEMENT。
MarydismissedGarsonpresently，andbetookherselftoherbedroomforanap。Thedayhadbeenatryingone，and，thoughhersuperbhealthcouldenduremuch，shefeltthatbothprudenceandcomfortrequiredthatsheshouldrecruitherenergieswhiletherewasopportunity。ShewasnotintheleastsurprisedthatDickhadnotyetreturned，thoughhehadmentionedhalfanhour。
Atthebest，thereweremanythingsthatmightdetainhim，hisfather\'sabsencefromtheoffice，difficultiesinmakingarrangementsforhisprojectedhoneymoontripabroad——whichwouldneveroccur——orthelike。Attheworst，therewasachanceoffindinghisfatherpromptly，andofthatfatheraspromptlytakingstepstopreventthesonfromeveragainseeingthewomanwhohadsoindiscreetlymarriedhim。Yet，somehow，Marycouldnotbelievethatherhusbandwouldyieldtosuchpaternalcoercion。Rather，shewassurethathewouldproveloyaltoherwhomheloved，througheverytrouble。Atthethoughtacertainwistfulnesspervadedher，andapoignantregretthatthisparticularmanshouldhavebeentheonechosenoffatetobeentangledwithinhermeshofrevenge。Therethrobbedinheraheart-tormentingrealizationthattherewereinlifepossibilitiesinfinitelymoresplendidthanthejoyofvengeance。
Shewouldnotconfessthetrutheventoherinmostsoul，butthetruthwasthere，andsethera-tremblewithvaguefears。
Nevertheless，becauseshewasinperfecthealth，andwasmuchfatigued，herintrospectiondidnotavailtokeepherawake，andwithinthreeminutesfromthetimeshelaydownshewasblissfullyunconsciousofallthings，boththeevilandthegood，revengeandlove。
Shehadslept，perhaps，ahalf-hour，whenFannieawakenedher。
\"It\'samannamedBurke，\"sheexplained，ashermistresslayblinking。\"Andthere\'sanothermanwithhim。Theysaidtheymustseeyou。\"
Bythistime，Marywaswide-awake，forthenameofBurke，thePoliceInspector，wasenoughtostartleheroutofdrowsiness。
\"Bringthemin，infiveminutes，\"shedirected。
Shegotup，slippedintoatea-gown，bathedhereyesincologne，dressedherhairalittle，andwentintothedrawing-room，wherethetwomenhadbeenwaitingforsomethingmorethanaquarterofanhour——totheviolentindignationofboth。
\"Oh，hereyouare，atlast!\"thebig，burlymancriedassheentered。Thewholeairofhim，thoughhewasincivilian\'sclothes，proclaimedthepoliceman。
\"Yes，Inspector，\"Maryrepliedpleasantly，assheadvancedintotheroom。Shegaveaglancetowardtheothervisitor，whowasofaslendererform，withathin，keenface，andrecognizedhiminstantlyasDemarest，whohadtakenpartagainstherasthelawyerforthestoreatthetimeofhertrial，andwhowasnowholdingtheofficeofDistrictAttorney。Shewenttothechairatthedesk，andseatedherselfinaleisurelyfashionthatincreasedtheindignationofthefumingInspector。Shedidnottroubletoaskherself-invitedgueststosit。
\"TowhomdoIowethepleasureofthisvisit，Inspector？\"sheremarkedcoolly。Itwasnoticeablethatshesaidwhomandnotwhat，asifsheunderstoodperfectlythattheinfluenceofsomepersonbroughthimonthiserrand。
\"Ihavecometohaveafewquietwordswithyou，\"theInspectordeclared，inamightyvoicethatsettheglobesofthechandeliersa-quiver。Marydisregardedhim，andturnedtotheotherman。
\"Howdoyoudo，Mr。Demarest？\"shesaid，evenly。\"It\'sfouryearssincewemet，andthey\'vemadeyouDistrictAttorneysincethen。Allowmetocongratulateyou。\"
Demarest\'skeenfacetookonanexpressionofperplexity。
\"I\'mpuzzled，\"heconfessed。\"Thereissomethingfamiliar，somehow，aboutyou，andyet——\"Hescrutinizedappreciativelythelovelinessofthegirlwithherclassicallybeautifulface，thatwasstillindividualinitscharm，theslimgracesofthetall，lissomeform。\"Ishouldhaverememberedyou。Idon\'tunderstandit。\"
\"Can\'tyouguess？\"Maryquestioned，somberly。\"Searchyourmemory，Mr。Demarest。\"
Ofasudden，thefaceoftheDistrictAttorneylightened。
\"Why，\"heexclaimed，\"youare——itcan\'tbe——yes——youarethegirl，you\'retheMaryTurnerwhomI——oh，Iknowyounow。\"
Therewasanenigmaticsmilebendingthescarletlipsassheanswered。
\"I\'mthegirlyoumean，Mr。Demarest，but，fortherest，youdon\'tknowme——notatall!\"
TheburlyfigureoftheInspectorofPolice，whichhadloomedmotionlessduringthiscolloquy，nowadvancedastep，andthebigvoiceboomedthreatening。Itwasveryroughandweightedwithauthority。
\"Youngwoman，\"Burkesaid，peremptorily，\"theTwentiethCenturyLimitedleavesGrandCentralStationatfouro\'clock。ItarrivesinChicagoateight-fifty-fiveto-morrowmorning。\"Hepulledamassivegoldwatchfromhiswaistcoatpocket，glancedatit，thrustitback，andconcludedponderously:\"Youwilljustabouthavetimetocatchthattrain。\"
Maryregardedthestockilybuiltofficerwithahalf-amusedcontempt，whichshewasatnopainstoconceal。
\"WorkingfortheNewYorkCentralnow？\"sheaskedblandly。
ThegibemadetheInspectorfurious。
\"I\'mworkingforthegoodofNewYorkCity，\"heansweredvenomously。
Maryletarippleofcadencedlaughterescapeher。
\"Sincewhen？\"shequestioned。
AlittlesmiletwistedthelipsoftheDistrictAttorney，buthecaughthimselfquickly，andspokewithsterngravity。
\"MissTurner，Ithinkyouwillfindthatadifferenttonewillserveyoubetter。\"
\"Oh，lethertalk，\"Burkeinterjectedangrily。\"She\'sonlygotafewminutesanyway。\"
Maryremainedunperturbed。
\"Verywell，then，\"shesaidgenially，\"letusbecomfortableduringthatlittleperiod。\"Shemadeagestureofinvitationtowardchairs，whichBurkedisdainedtoaccept；butDemarestseatedhimself。
\"You\'dbetterbepackingyourtrunk，\"theInspectorrumbled。
\"Butwhy？\"Maryinquired，withatantalizingassumptionofinnocence。\"I\'mnotgoingaway。\"
\"OntheTwentiethCenturyLimited，thisafternoon，\"theInspectordeclared，inavoiceofgrowingwrath。
\"Oh，dear，no!\"Mary\'sassertionwasmadeveryquietly，butwithanunderlyingfirmnessthatirritatedtheofficialbeyondendurance。
\"Isayyes!\"Theanswerwasabellow。
Maryappeareddistressed，notfrightened。Herwordswereanironicprotestagainsttheman\'sobstreperousnoisiness，nomore。
\"Ithoughtyouwantedquietwordswithme。\"
Burkewenttowardher，inarage。
\"Now，lookhere，Mollie——\"hebeganharshly。
Ontheinstant，Marywasonherfeet，facinghim，andtherewasagleaminhereyesastheymethisthatbadehimpause。
\"MissTurner，ifyoudon\'tmind。\"Shelaughedslightly。\"Forthepresent，anyway。\"Shereseatedherselftranquilly。
Burkewaschecked，butheretainedhisseverityofbearing。
\"I\'mgivingyouyourorders。YouwilleithergotoChicago，oryou\'llgouptheriver。\"
Maryansweredinavoicechargedwithcynicism。
\"Ifyoucanconvictme。Pray，noticethatlittleword\'if\'。\"
TheDistrictAttorneyinterposedverysuavely。
\"Ididonce，remember。\"
\"Butyoucan\'tdoitagain，\"Marydeclared，withanassurancethatexcitedtheastonishmentofthepoliceofficial。
\"Howdoyouknowhecan\'t？\"heblustered。
Marylaughedinacadenceofgenialmerriment。
\"Because，\"sherepliedgaily，\"ifhecould，hewouldhavehadmeinprisonsometimeago。\"
Burkewinced，buthemadeshifttoconcealhisrealizationofthetruthshehadstatedtohim。
\"Huh!\"heexclaimedgruffly。\"I\'veseenthemgoupprettyeasy。\"
Marymettheassertionwithaserenitythatwasbaffling。
\"Thepoorones，\"shevouchsafed；\"notthosethathavemoney。I
havemoney，plentyofmoney——now。\"
\"Moneyyoustole!\"theInspectorreturned，brutally。
\"Oh，dear，no!\"Marycried，withafineshowofvirtuousindignation。
\"Whataboutthethirtythousanddollarsyougotonthatpartnershipswindle？\"Burkeasked，sneering。\"Is\'poseyoudidn\'tstealthat!\"
\"Certainlynot，\"wasthereadyreply。\"Themanadvertisedforapartnerinabusinesssuretobringbigandsafereturns。I
answered。Thebusinessproposedwastobuyatractofland，andsubdivideit。Thedeedstothelandwereallforged，andthesupposedsellerwashisconfederate，withwhomhewastodividethemoney。Weformedapartnership，withacapitalofsixtythousanddollars。Wepaidthemoneyintothebank，andthenatonceIdrewitout。Yousee，hewantedtogetmymoneyillegally，butinsteadImanagedtogethislegally。Foritwaslegalformetodrawthatmoney——wasn\'tit，Mr。Demarest？\"
TheDistrictAttorneybyaneffortretainedhissevereexpressionofrighteousdisapprobation，butheadmittedthetruthofhercontention。
\"Unfortunately，yes，\"hesaidgravely。\"Apartnerhastherighttodrawoutany，orall，ofthepartnershipfunds。\"
\"AndIwasapartner，\"Marysaidcontentedly。\"You，see，Inspector，youwrongme——youdo，really!I\'mnotaswindler；I\'mafinancier。\"
Burkesneeredscornfully。
\"Well，\"heroared，\"you\'llneverpullanotheroneonme。Youcangambleonthat!\"
Marypermittedherselftolaughmockinglyinthefaceofthebadgeredofficial。
\"Thankyoufortellingme，\"shesaid，graciously。\"Andletmesay，incidentally，thatMissLynchatthepresentmomentispainlesslyextractingtenthousanddollarsfromGeneralHastingsinaperfectlylegalmanner，InspectorBurke。\"
\"Well，anyhow，\"Burkeshouted，\"youmaystayinsidethelaw，butyou\'vegottogetoutsidethecity。\"Hetriedtoemployanelephantinebanteringtone。\"Onthelevel，now，doyouthinkyoucouldgetawaywiththatyoungGilderschemeyou\'vebeenplanning？\"
Maryappearedpuzzled。
\"WhatyoungGilderscheme？\"sheasked，herbrowsdrawninbewilderment。
\"Oh，I\'mwise——I\'mwise!\"theInspectorcriedroughly。\"Theansweris，onceforall，leavetownthisafternoon，oryou\'llbeintheTombsinthemorning。\"
Abruptly，achangecameoverthewoman。Hitherto，shehadbeencynical，sarcastic，laughing，careless，impudent。Now，ofasudden，shewasallseriousness，andshespokewithagravitythat，despitetheirvolition，impressedboththemenbeforeher。
\"Itcan\'tbedone，Inspector，\"shesaid，sedately。
Thedeclaration，simpleasitwas，arousedtheofficialtonewindignation。
\"Whosaysitcan\'t？\"hevociferated，overflowingwithangeratthisfloutingoftheauthorityherepresented。
Maryopenedadrawerofthedesk，andtookoutthedocumentobtainedthatmorningfromHarris，andhelditforth。
\"This，\"shereplied，succinctly。
\"What\'sthis？\"Burkestormed。Buthetookthepaper。
DemarestlookedovertheInspector\'sshoulder，andhiseyesgrewlargerasheread。Whenhewasatanendofthereading，heregardedthepassivewomanatthedeskwithanewrespect。
\"What\'sthis？\"Burkerepeatedhelplessly。Itwasnoteasyforhimtointerpretthelegalphraseology。Marywaskindenoughtomakethedocumentcleartohim。
\"It\'satemporaryrestrainingorderfromtheSupremeCourt，instructingyoutoletmealoneuntilyouhavelegalproofthatI
havebrokenthelaw……Doyougetthat，Mr。InspectorBurke？\"
Theplethoricofficialstaredhardattheinjunction。
\"Anothernewone，\"hestutteredfinally。Thenhisangersoughtventinviolentassertion。\"Butitcan\'tbedone!\"heshouted。
\"YoumightaskMr。Demarest，\"Marysuggested，pleasantly，\"astowhetherornotitcanbedone。Thegamblinghousescandoit，andsokeeponbreakingthelaw。Theracetrackmencandoit，andlaughatthelaw。Therailroadcandoit，torestrainitsemployeesfromstriking。So，whyshouldn\'tIgetone，too？Yousee，Ihavemoney。IcanbuyallthelawIwant。Andthere\'snothingyoucan\'tdowiththelaw，ifyouhavemoneyenough……
AskMr。Demarest。Heknows。\"
Burkewasfairlygaspingoverthisoutrageagainsthisauthority。
\"Canyoubeatthat!\"herumbledwitharaucouslysonorousvehemence。HeregardedMarywithastareofalmostreverentialwonder。\"Acrookappealingtothelaw!\"
Therecameanewnoteintothewoman\'svoiceassheansweredthegibe。
\"No，simplygettingjustice，\"shesaidsimply。\"That\'stheremarkablepartofit。\"Shethrewoffherseriousair。\"Well，gentlemen，\"sheconcluded，\"whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？\"
Burkeexplained。
\"ThisiswhatI\'mgoingtodoaboutit。Onewayoranother，I\'mgoingtogetyou。\"
TheDistrictAttorney，however，judgeditadvisabletousemorepersuasivemethods。
\"MissTurner，\"hesaid，withanappearanceofsincerity，\"I\'mgoingtoappealtoyoursenseoffairplay。\"
Mary\'sshiningeyesmethisforalongmoment，andbeforethechallengeinhers，hisfell。Herememberedthenthosedoubtsthathadassailedhimwhenthisgirlhadbeensentencedtoprison，rememberedthehalf-heartedpleahehadmadeinherbehalftoRichardGilder。
\"Thatwaskilled，\"Marysaid，\"killedfouryearsago。\"
ButDemarestpersisted。Influencehadbeenbroughttobearonhim。Itwasforherownsakenowthatheurgedher。
\"LetyoungGilderalone。\"
Marylaughedagain。Buttherewasnohintofjoyousnessinthemusicaltones。Heranswerwasfrank——brutallyfrank。Shehadnothingtoconceal。
\"Hisfathersentmeawayforthreeyears——threeyearsforsomethingIdidn\'tdo。Well，he\'sgottopayforit。\"
Bythistime，Burke，amanofsuperiorintelligence，asonemustbetoreachsuchapositionofauthority，hadcometorealizethatherewasacasenottobecarriedthroughbyblustering，byintimidation，bytheroughrusesfamiliartotheforce。Herewasawomanofextraordinaryintelligence，aswellasofpeculiarpersonalcharm，whomerelymadesportofhisfulminations，andshowedherselfessentiallyarmedagainstanythinghemightdo，byacourtinjunction，athingunheardofuntilthismomentinthecaseofacommoncrook。Itdawneduponhimthatthiswas，indeed，notacommoncrook。Moreover，therehadgrowninhimacertainadmirationfortheingenuityandresourceofthiswoman，thoughheretainedallhisrancoragainstonewhodaredthustoresistthedulyconstitutedauthority。So，intheend，hespoketoherfrankly，withoutatraceofhisformervirulence，withaveryreal，ifrugged，sincerity。
\"Don\'tfoolyourself，mygirl，\"hesaidinhishugevoice，whichwasnowmodulatedtoadegreethatmadeitalmostunfamiliartohimself。\"Youcan\'tgothroughwiththis。There\'salwaysaweaklinkinthechainsomewhere。It\'suptometofindit，andI
will。\"
Hiscandormovedhertoalikehonesty。
\"Now，\"shesaid，andtherewasrespectintheglanceshegavethestalwartman，\"nowyoureallysounddangerous。\"
Therecameaninterruption，alikeunexpectedbyall。Fannieappearedatthedoor。
\"Mr。EdwardGilderwishestoseeyou，MissTurner，\"shesaid，withnoappreciationofanythingdynamicintheannouncement。
\"ShallIshowhimin？\"
\"Oh，certainly，\"Maryanswered，withanadmirablepretenseofindifference，whileBurkeglaredatDemarest，andtheDistrictAttorneyappearedillatease。
\"Heshouldn\'thavecome，\"Demarestmuttered，gettingtohisfeet，inreplytothepuzzledglanceoftheInspector。
Then，whileMarysatquietlyinherchairatthedesk，andthetwomenstoodwatchingdoubtfullythedoor，themaidappeared，stoodaside，andsaidsimply，\"Mr。Gilder。\"
Thereenteredtheerect，heavyfigureofthemanwhomMaryhadhatedthroughtheyears。Hestoppedabruptlyjustwithintheroom，gaveaglanceatthetwomen，thenhiseyeswenttoMary，sittingatherdesk，withherfaceliftedinquiringly。Hedidnotpausetotakeinthebeautyofthatface，onlyitsstrength。
Hestaredathersilentlyforamoment。Thenhespokeinhisoritundvoice，alittletremulousfromanxiety。
\"Areyouthewoman？\"hesaid。Therewassomethingsimpleandprimitive，somethingofdignitybeyondtheusualconventions，inhisdirectaddress。
Andtherewasthesameprimitivesimplicityintheanswer。
Betweenthetwostrongnaturestherewasnosubterfuge，nosuggestionofpoliteevasions，oftergiversation，onlythepleaoftruthtotruth。Mary\'sacknowledgmentwasasplainashisownquestion。
\"Iamthewoman。Whatdoyouwant？\"……Thustwohonestfolkhadmetfacetoface。
\"Myson。\"Theman\'sanswerwascomplete。
ButMarytouchedatragicnoteinherquestion。Itwasaskedinnofrivolousspirit，but，ofasudden，sheguessedthathiscomingwasaltogetherofhisownvolition，andnottheresultofhisson\'sinformation，asatfirstshehadsupposed。
\"Haveyouseenhimrecently？\"sheasked。
\"No，\"Gilderanswered。
\"Then，whydidyoucome？\"
Thereat，themanwasseizedwithafatherlyfury。Hisheavyfacewascongested，andhissonorousvoicewasharshwithvirtuousrebuke。
\"BecauseIintendtosavemyboyfromagreatfolly。Iaminformedthatheisinfatuatedwithyou，andInspectorBurketellsmewhy——hetellsme——why——hetellsme——\"Hepaused，unableforamomenttocontinuefromanexcessofemotion。Buthisgrayeyesburnedfiercelyinaccusationagainsther。
InspectorBurkehimselffilledthevoidinthehaltingsentence。
\"Itoldyoushehadbeenanex-convict。\"
\"Yes，\"Gildersaid，afterhehadregainedhisself-control。Hestaredatherpleadingly。\"Tellme，\"hesaidwithacertaindignity，\"isthistrue？\"
Here，then，wasthemomentforwhichshehadlongedthroughwearydays，throughwearyyears。Herewasthemanwhomshehated，suppliantbeforehertoknowthetruth。Herheartquickened。
Truly，vengeanceissweettoonewhohassufferedunjustly。
\"Isthistrue？\"themanrepeated，withsomethingofhorrorinhisvoice。
\"Itis，\"Marysaidquietly。
Foralittle，therewassilenceintheroom。Once，InspectorBurkestartedtospeak，butthemagnatemadeanimperativegesture，andtheofficerheldhispeace。Always，Maryrestedmotionless。Withinher，afiercejoysurged。Herewasthetimeofhervictory。Oppositeherwasthemanwhohadcausedheranguish，themanwhoseunjustactionhadruinedherlife。Now，hewasherhumblepetitioner，butthisservilitycouldbeofnoavailtosavehimfromshame。Hemustdrinkofthedregsofhumiliation——andthenagain。Nopriceweretoogreattopayforawrongsuchasthatwhichhehadputuponher。
Atlast，Gilderwasrestoredinameasuretohisself-possession。
Hespokewiththesurenessofamanofwealth，confidentthatmoneywillsalveanywound。
\"Howmuch？\"heasked，baldly。
Marysmiledaninscrutablesmile。
\"Oh，Idon\'tneedmoney，\"shesaid，carelessly。\"InspectorBurkewilltellyouhoweasyitisformetogetit。\"
Gilderlookedatherwithanewlydawningrespect；thenhisshrewdnesssuggestedaretort。
\"Doyouwantmysontolearnwhatyouare？\"hesaid。
Marylaughed。Therewassomethingdreadfulinthatburstofspuriousamusement。
\"Whynot？\"sheanswered。\"I\'mreadytotellhimmyself。\"
ThenGildershowedthetrueheartofhim，inwhichloveforhisboywasbeforeallelse。Hefoundhimselfwhollyatalossbeforethewoman\'sunexpectedreply。
\"ButIdon\'twanthimtoknow，\"hestammered。\"Why，I\'vesparedtheboyallhislife。Ifhereallylovesyou——itwill——\"
Atthatmoment，thesonhimselfenteredhurriedlyfromthehallway。Inhiseagerness，hesawnoonesavethewomanwhomheloved。Athisentrance，Maryroseandmovedbackwardastepinvoluntarily，insheersurpriseoverhiscoming，eventhoughshehadknownhemustcome——perhapsfromsomeotheremotion，deeper，hiddenasyetevenfromherself。
Theyoungman，withhiswholesomefacealightwithtenderness，wentswiftlytoher，whiletheotherthreemenstoodsilent，motionless，abashedbytheevent。AndDicktookMary\'shandinawarmclasp，pressedittenderly。