“You expect to win in the end, however?”

“Certainly; there is no doubt but that Ralph Mainwaring will win the case.  He will get the property either for his son or for himself.  We are first going to try to have the will upheld in the courts.  Failing in that, the property will, of course, be divided between the nearest heirs, Ralph Mainwaring and a younger bachelor brother; in which event, the whole thing will, in all probability, finally revert to his son Hugh.”

“Mr. Whitney, what is your opinion of Mrs. LaGrange’s story of a private marriage?”

The attorney shook his head decidedly.  “One of her clever lies; but if she ever undertakes to tell that little romance in court, I’ll tear it all to shreds.  She never was married to Hugh Mainwaring; but,” he added, slowly, “I may as well tell you that Walter was his son.  Mr. Mainwaring the same as admitted that to me once; but I am certain that, aside from that fact, that woman had some terrible hold on him, though what I never knew.  By the way, Mr. Scott, do you know anything of the particulars of that transaction to which those letters referred and to which Hobson alluded to-day?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mr. Whitney looked keenly at the young man.  “You obtained your knowledge originally from other sources than Mr. Mainwaring’s correspondence, did you not?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I thought so.  Do you know, Mr. Scott, I would denounce the whole thing as a lie, a scheme of that adventuress, or that impostor, Hobson, or both, by which they hope to gain some hold on the heirs, were it not that, from your manner, I have been convinced that you have some personal knowledge of the facts in the case, — that you know far more than you have yet told.”

Mr. Whitney paused, watching the young secretary closely, but there was no reply, and, with all his penetration, the attorney could read nothing in the immobile face before him.  He continued,-

“Whatever that transaction may have been, I wish to know nothing about it.  I was much attached to Mr. Mainwaring and respected him highly, and I want to respect his memory; and I will tell you frankly what I most dread in this coming contest.  I expect nothing else but that either that woman or Hobson will drag the affair out from its hiding-place, and will hold it up for the public to gloat over, as it always does.  I hate to see a man’s reputation blackened in that way, especially when that man was my friend and his own lips are sealed in death.”

“It is a pity,” said Scott, slowly; “but if one wishes to leave behind him an untarnished reputation, he must back it up, while living, with an unblemished character.”

“Well,” said the attorney, tentatively, after another pause, “Mr. Mainwaring’s character, whatever it may have been before we were associated with him, certainly had no effect upon your life or mine, hence I feel that it is nothing with which we are directly concerned; and I believe, in fact I know, that it will be for your interest, Mr. Scott, if you say nothing regarding whatever knowledge you may have of the past.”