Whenitsturncame，theprivatesecretary，somewhatapologetically，laidtheletterinfrontoftheWisestManinWallStreet。
\"FromMrs。Austin，probationofficer，CourtofGeneralSessions，\"
heexplained。\"WantsaletteraboutSpear。He’sbeenconvictedoftheft。ComesupforsentenceTuesday。\"
\"Spear？\"repeatedArnoldThorndike。
\"Youngfellow，stenographer，usedtodoyourletterslastsummergoinginandoutonthetrain。\"
Thegreatmannodded。\"Iremember。Whatabouthim？\"
Thehabitualgloomoftheprivatesecretarywaslightenedbyagrin。
\"Wentontheloose;hadwithhimaboutfivehundreddollarsbelongingtothefirm;he’swithIsaacs&Sonsnow，shoepeopleonSixthAvenue。Metawoman，andwokeupwithoutthemoney。Thenextmorningheofferedtomakegood，butIsaacscalledinapoliceman。Whentheylookedintoit，theyfoundtheboyhadbeendrunk。Theytriedtowithdrawthecharge，buthe’dbeencommitted。
Now，theprobationofficeristryingtogetthejudgetosuspendsentence。Aletterfromyou，sir，would——\"
Itwasevidentthemindofthegreatmanwaselsewhere。Youngmenwho，drunkorsober，spentthefirm’smoneyonwomenwhodisappearedbeforesunrisedidnotappealtohim。AnotherlettersubmittedthatmorninghadcomefromhisartagentinEurope。InFlorencehehaddiscoveredtheCorreggiohehadbeensenttofind。
Itwasundoubtedlygenuine，andheaskedtobeinstructedbycable。
Thepricewasfortythousanddollars。Withoneeyeclosed，andtheotherkeenlyregardingtheinkstand，Mr。Thorndikedecidedtopaytheprice;andwiththefacilityoflongpracticedismissedtheCorreggio，andsnappedhismindbacktothepresent。
\"Spearhadaletterfromuswhenheleft，didn’the？\"heasked。
\"Whathehasdevelopedinto，SINCEheleftus——\"heshruggedhisshoulders。Thesecretarywithdrewtheletter，andslippedanotherinitsplace。
\"HomerFirth，thelandscapeman，\"hechanted，\"wantspermissiontouseblueflintonthenewroad，withturfgutters，andtoplantsilverfirseachside。Saysitwillruntoaboutfivethousanddollarsamile。\"
\"No！\"protestedthegreatmanfirmly，\"blueflintmakesacountryplacelooklikeacemetery。Minelookstoomuchlikeacemeterynow。Landscapegardeners！\"heexclaimedimpatiently。\"Theironlyideaistoinsultnature。TheplacewasbetterthedayIboughtit，whenitwasrunningwild;youcouldpickflowersallthewaytothegates。\"Pleasedthatitshouldhaverecurredtohim，thegreatmansmiled。\"Why，Spear，\"heexclaimed，\"alwaystookinabunchofthemforhismother。Don’tyouremember，weusedtoseehimbeforebreakfastwanderingaroundthegroundspickingflowers？\"Mr。
Thorndikenoddedbriskly。\"Ilikehistakingflowerstohismother。\"
\"HeSAIDitwastohismother，\"suggestedthesecretarygloomily。
\"Well，hepickedtheflowers，anyway，\"laughedMr。Thorndike。\"Hedidn’tpickourpockets。Andhehadtherunofthehouseinthosedays。Asfarasweknow，\"hedictated，\"hewassatisfactory。
Don’tsaymorethanthat。\"
Thesecretaryscribbledamarkwithhispencil。\"Andthelandscapeman？\"
\"Tellhim，\"commandedThorndike，\"Iwantawoodroad，suitabletoafarm;andtoletthetreesgrowwhereGodplantedthem。\"
AshiscarsliddowntownonTuesdaymorningthemindofArnoldThorndikewasoccupiedwithsuchdetailsofdailyroutineasthepurchaseofarailroad，theJapaneseloan，thenewwingtohisartgallery，andanattackthatmorning，inhisownnewspaper，uponhispettrust。Buthisbusymindwasnottoooccupiedtoreturnthesalutesofthetrafficpolicemenwhoclearedthewayforhim。Or，bysomegeniusofmemory，torecallthefactthatitwasonthismorningyoungSpearwastobesentencedfortheft。Itwasacharmingmorning。Thespringwasatfulltide，andtheairwassweetandclean。Mr。Thorndikeconsideredwhimsicallythattosendamantojailwiththememoryofsuchamorningclingingtohimwasaddingayeartohissentence。Heregrettedhehadnotgiventheprobationofficerastrongerletter。Herememberedtheyoungmannow，andfavorably。Ashy，silentyouth，deftinwork，andatothertimesconsciousandembarrassed。Butthat，onthepartofastenographer，inthepresenceoftheWisestManinWallStreet，wasnotunnatural。Onoccasions，Mr。Thorndikehadputevenroyalty——
frayed，impecuniousroyalty，onthelookoutforaloan——atitsease。
Thehoodofthecarwasdown，andthetasteoftheair，warmedbythesun，wasgrateful。Itwasatthistime，ayearbefore，thatyoungSpearpickedthespringflowerstotaketohismother。A
yearfromnowwherewouldyoungSpearbe？
Itwascharacteristicofthegreatmantoactquickly，soquicklythathisfriendsdeclaredhewasaslavetoimpulse。Itwasthesesameimpulses，leadingsoinvariablytosuccess，thatmadehisenemiescallhimtheWisestMan。Heleanedforwardandtouchedthechauffeur’sshoulder。\"StopattheCourtofGeneralSessions，\"hecommanded。Whatheproposedtodowouldtakebutafewminutes。A
word，apersonalwordfromhimtothedistrictattorney，orthejudge，wouldbeenough。HerecalledthataSundaySpecialhadoncecalculatedthattheworkingtimeofArnoldThorndikebroughthimintwohundreddollarsaminute。Atthatrate，keepingSpearoutofprisonwouldcostathousanddollars。
OutofthesunshineMr。Thorndikesteppedintothegloomofanechoingrotunda，shutinoneveryside，hungbybalconies，lit，manystoriesoverhead，byadirtyskylight。Theplacewasdamp，theairacridwiththesmellofstaletobaccojuice，andfoulwiththepresenceofmanyunwashedhumans。Apoliceman，chewingstolidly，noddedtowardanelevatorshaft，andotherpolicemennoddedhimfurtherontotheofficeofthedistrictattorney。
ThereArnoldThorndikebreathedmorefreely。Hewasagainamonghisownpeople。Hecouldnothelpbutappreciatethedramaticqualitiesofthesituation;thattherichestmaninWallStreetshouldappearinpersontopleadforahumbleandweakerbrother。
Heknewhecouldnotescaperecognition，hisfacewastoowellknown，but，hetrusted，forthesakeofSpear，thereporterswouldmakenodisplayofhisvisit。Withadeprecatorylaugh，heexplainedwhyhehadcome。Buttheoutburstofapprobationhehadanticipateddidnotfollow。
Thedistrictattorneyranhisfingerbrisklydownaprintedcard。
\"HenrySpear，\"heexclaimed，\"that’syourman。PartThree，JudgeFallon。Andrewsisinthatcourt。\"Hewalkedtothedoorofhisprivateoffice。\"Andrews！\"hecalled。
Heintroducedanalert，broad—shoulderedyoungmanofyearsofmuchindiscretionandwithacharmingandinconsequentmanner。
\"Mr。ThorndikeisinterestedinHenrySpear，comingupforsentenceinPartThreethismorning。Wantstospeakforhim。Takehimoverwithyou。\"
Thedistrictattorneyshookhandsquickly，andretreatedtohisprivateoffice。Mr。Andrewstookoutacigaretteand，ashecrossedthefloor，litit。
\"Comewithme，\"hecommanded。Somewhatpuzzled，slightlyannoyed，butenjoyingwithalthenoveltyoftheenvironmentandthecurtnessofhisreception，Mr。Thorndikefollowed。Hedecidedthat，inhisignorance，hehadwastedhisowntimeandthatoftheprosecutingattorney。Heshouldatoncehavesentinhiscardtothejudge。
Asheunderstoodit，Mr。Andrewswasnowconductinghimtothatdignitary，and，inamoment，hewouldbefreetoreturntohisownaffairs，whichweretheaffairsoftwocontinents。ButMr。Andrewsledhimtoanoffice，bareandsmall，andofferedhimachair，andhandedhimamorningnewspaper。Therewerepeoplewaitingintheroom;strangepeople，onlylikethoseMr。Thorndikehadseenonferry—boats。TheyleanedforwardtowardyoungMr。Andrews，fawning，theireyeswidewithapprehension。
Mr。Thorndikerefusedthenewspaper。\"IthoughtIwasgoingtoseethejudge，\"hesuggested。
\"Courtdoesn’topenforafewminutesyet，\"saidtheassistantdistrictattorney。\"Judgeisalwayslate，anyway。\"
Mr。Thorndikesuppressedanexclamation。Hewantedtoprotest，buthisclearmindshowedhimthattherewasnothingagainstwhich，withreason，hecouldprotest。Hecouldnotcomplainbecausethesepeoplewerenotapparentlyawareofthesacrificehewasmaking。
Hehadcomeamongthemtoperformakindlyact。Herecognizedthathemustnotstultifyitbyashowofirritation。Hehadprecipitatedhimselfintoagameofwhichhedidnotknowtherules。Thatwasall。Nexttimehewouldknowbetter。Nexttimehewouldsendaclerk。Buthewasnotwithoutasenseofhumor，andthesituationasitnowwasforceduponhimstruckhimasamusing。Helaughedgood—naturedlyandreachedforthedesktelephone。
\"MayIusethis？\"heasked。HespoketotheWallStreetoffice。
Heexplainedhewouldbeafewminuteslate。Hedirectedwhatshouldbedoneifthemarketopenedinacertainway。Hegaverapidordersonmanydifferentmatters，askedtohavereadtohimacablegramheexpectedfromPetersburg，andonefromVienna。
\"Theyanswereachother，\"washisfinalinstruction。\"Itlookslikepeace。\"
Mr。Andrewswithgenialpatiencehadremainedsilent。Nowheturneduponhisvisitors。ALevantine，burly，unshaven，andsoiled，toweredtruculentlyabovehim。YoungMr。Andrewswithhisswivelchairtiltedback，hishandsclaspedbehindhishead，hiscigarettehangingfromhislips，regardedthemandispassionately。
\"Yougottahellofanervetocometoseeme，\"hecommentedcheerfully。ToMr。Thorndike，theformofgreetingwasnovel。Sogreatlydiditdifferfromtheprocedureofhisownoffice，thathelistenedwithinterest。
\"Wasityou，\"demandedyoungAndrews，inapuzzledtone，\"oryourbrotherwhotriedtoknifeme？\"Mr。Thorndike，unaccustomedtocrossthepavementtohisofficeunlessescortedbybankmessengersandplain—clothesmen，felttheroomgrowingrapidlysmaller;thefigureofthetruculentGreekloomedtoheroicproportions。Thehandofthebankerwentvaguelytohischin，andfromtherefelltohispearlpin，whichhehastilycovered。
\"Getout！\"saidyoungAndrews，\"anddon’tshowyourfacehere——\"
ThedoorslammedupontheflyingGreek。YoungAndrewsswunghisswivelchairsothat，overhisshoulder，hecouldseeMr。
Thorndike。\"Idon’tlikehisface，\"heexplained。
Akindlyeyed，sadwomanwithabasketonherkneesmileduponAndrewswiththefamiliarityofanoldacquaintance。
\"Isthatwomangoingtogetadivorcefrommyson，\"sheasked，\"nowthathe’sintrouble？\"
\"Nowthathe’sinSingSing？\"correctedMr。Andrews。\"IHOPEso！
Shedeservesit。Thatsonofyours，Mrs。Bernard，\"hedeclaredemphatically，\"isnogood！\"
ThebrutalityshockedMr。Thorndike。Forthewomanhefeltathrillofsympathy，butatoncesawthatitwassuperfluous。Fromthesecureandloftyheightsofmotherhood，Mrs。Bernardsmileddownupontheassistantdistrictattorneyasuponanaughtychild。
Shedidnotevendeignaprotest。Shecontinuedmerelytosmile。
ThesmileremindedThorndikeofthesmileonthefaceofamotherinapaintingbyMurillohehadlatelypresentedtothechapelinthecollegehehadgiventohisnativetown。
\"Thatsonofyours，\"repeatedyoungAndrews，\"isaleech。He’srobbedyou，robbedhiswife。BestthingIeverdidforYOUwastosendhimuptheriver。\"
Themothersmileduponhimbeseechingly。
\"Couldyougivemeapass？\"shesaid。
YoungAndrewsflunguphishandsandappealedtoThorndike。
\"Isn’tthatjustlikeamother？\"heprotested。\"Thatsonofhershasbrokenherheart，trampedonher，cheatedher;hasn’tleftheracent;andshecomestomeforapass，soshecankisshimthroughthebars！AndI’llbetshe’sgotacakeforhiminthatbasket！\"
Themotherlaughedhappily;sheknewnowshewouldgetthepass。
\"Mothers，\"explainedMr。Andrews，fromthedepthofhiswisdom，\"arealllikethat;yourmother，mymother。Ifyouwenttojail，yourmotherwouldbejustlikethat。\"
Mr。Thorndikebowedhisheadpolitely。Hehadneverconsideredgoingtojail，orwhether，ifhedid，hismotherwouldbringhimcakeinabasket。Apparentlythereweremanyaspectsandaccidentsoflifenotincludedinhisexperience。
YoungAndrewssprangtohisfeet，and，withtheforceofahoseflushingagutter，swepthissoiledvisitorsintothehall。
\"Comeon，\"hecalledtotheWisestMan，\"thecourtisopen。\"
Inthecorridorsweremanypeople，andwithhiseyesonthebroadshouldersoftheassistantdistrictattorney，Thorndikepushedhiswaythroughthem。Thepeoplewhoblockedhisprogresswereoftheclassunknowntohim。Theirlookswereanxious，furtive，miserable。Theystoodinlittlegroups，listeningeagerlytoasharp—facedlawyer，or，insullendespair，eyingeachother。AtadooratipstafflaidhishandroughlyonthearmofMr。Thorndike。
\"That’sallright，Joe，\"calledyoungMr。Andrews，\"he’swithME。\"
Theyenteredthecourtandpasseddownanaisletoarailedenclosureinwhichwerehighoakchairs。Again，inhisefforttofollow，Mr。Thorndikewashalted，butthefirsttipstaffcametohisrescue。\"Allright，\"hesignalled，\"he’swithMr。Andrews。\"
Mr。Andrewspointedtooneoftheoakchairs。\"Yousitthere，\"hecommanded，\"it’sreservedformembersofthebar，butit’sallright。You’rewithME。\"
Distinctlyannoyed，slightlybewildered，thebankersankbetweenthearmsofachair。Hefelthehadlosthisindividuality。
Andrewshadbecomehissponsor。BecauseofAndrewshewastolerated。BecauseAndrewshadapullhewaspermittedtositasanequalamongpolice—courtlawyers。NolongerwasheArnoldThorndike。Hewasmerelytheman\"withMr。Andrews。\"
ThenevenAndrewsabandonedhim。\"Thejudge’llbehereinaminute，now，\"saidtheassistantdistrictattorney，andwentinsidearailedenclosureinfrontofthejudge’sbench。TherehegreetedanotherassistantdistrictattorneywhoseyearswerethoseofevengreaterindiscretionthantheyearsofMr。Andrews。Seatedontherail，withtheirhandsintheirpocketsandtheirbacksturnedtoMr。Thorndike，theylaughedandtalkedtogether。ThesubjectoftheirdiscoursewasoneMikeDonlin，asheappearedinvaudeville。
ToMr。ThorndikeitwasevidentthatyoungAndrewshadentirelyforgottenhim。Hearose，andtouchedhissleeve。WithinfinitesarcasmMr。Thorndikebegan:\"Myengagementsarenotpressing，but——\"
Acourtattendantbeatwithhispalmupontherail。
\"Sitdown！\"whisperedAndrews。\"Thejudgeiscoming。\"
Mr。Thorndikesatdown。
ThecourtattendantdronedloudlywordsMr。Thorndikecouldnotdistinguish。Therewasarustleofsilk，andfromadoorbehindhimthejudgestalkedpast。Hewasayoungman，thetypeoftheTammanypolitician。Onhisshrewd，alert，Irish—Americanfeatureswasanexpressionofunnaturalgloom。WithasmileMr。Thorndikeobservedthatitwasaslittlesuitedtothecountenanceoftheyoungjudgeaswastherobetohisshoulders。Mr。ThorndikewasstillsmilingwhenyoungAndrewsleanedovertherail。
\"Standup！\"hehissed。Mr。Thorndikestoodup。
Afterthecourtattendanthadutteredmoreunintelligiblewords，everyonesatdown;andthefinancieragainmovedhurriedlytotherail。
\"Iwouldliketospeaktohimnowbeforehebegins，\"hewhispered。
\"Ican’twait。\"
Mr。Andrewsstaredinamazement。Thebankerhadnotbelievedtheyoungmancouldlooksoserious。