第7章
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。