within the law-第22章
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paused expectantly； but Mary offered no comment； only maintained her alert scrutiny of the man。 The lawyer； therefore； leaned forward with a semblance of frank eagerness。 Instantly； Aggie had become agog with greedily blissful anticipations； and she uttered a slight ejaculation of joy； but Irwin paid no heed to her。 He was occupied in taking from his pocket a thick bill…case； and from this presently a sheaf of banknotes； which he laid on the desk before Mary； with a little laugh of discomfiture over having been beaten in the contest。
As he did so； Aggie thrust forth an avaricious hand； but it was caught and held by Mary before it reached above the top of the desk； and the avaricious gesture passed unobserved by the attorney。
〃We can't fight where ladies are concerned；〃 he went on； assuming； as best he might contrive； a chivalrous tone。 〃So； if you will just hand over General Hastings' letters； why； here's your money。〃
Much to the speaker's surprise； there followed an interval of silence； and his puzzlement showed in the knitting of his brows。 〃You have the letters； haven't you？〃 he demanded； abruptly。
Aggie coyly took a thick bundle from its resting place on her rounded bosom。
〃They never leave me；〃 she murmured； with dulcet passion。 There was in her voice a suggestion of desolationa desolation that was the blighting effect of letting the cherished missives go from her。
〃Well； they can leave you now； all right；〃 the lawyer remarked unsympathetically； but with returning cheerfulness； since he saw the end of his quest in visible form before him。 He reached quickly forward for the packet； which Aggie extended willingly enough。 But it was Mary who； with a swift movement； caught and held it。
〃Not quite yet； Mr。 Irwin； I'm afraid；〃 she said； calmly。
The lawyer barely suppressed a violent ejaculation of annoyance。
〃But there's the money waiting for you；〃 he protested； indignantly。
The rejoinder from Mary was spoken with great deliberation； yet with a note of determination that caused a quick and acute anxiety to the General's representative。
〃I think；〃 Mary explained tranquilly； 〃that you had better see our lawyer； Mr。 Harris； in reference to this。 We women know nothing of such details of business settlement。〃
〃Oh； there's no need for all that formality；〃 Irwin urged； with a great appearance of bland friendliness。
〃Just the same；〃 Mary persisted； unimpressed； 〃I'm quite sure you would better see Mr。 Harris first。〃 There was a cadence of insistence in her voice that assured the lawyer as to the futility of further pretense on his part。
〃Oh； I see；〃 he said disagreeably； with a frown to indicate his complete sagacity in the premises。
〃I thought you would； Mr。 Irwin；〃 Mary returned； and now she smiled in a kindly manner； which； nevertheless； gave no pleasure to the chagrined man before her。 As he rose； she went on crisply： 〃If you'll take the money to Mr。 Harris； Miss Lynch will meet you in his office at four o'clock this afternoon； and； when her suit for damages for breach of promise has been legally settled out of court； you will get the letters。。。。 Good…afternoon； Mr。 Irwin。〃
The lawyer made a hurried bow which took in both of the women； and walked quickly toward the door。 But he was arrested before he reached it by the voice of Mary； speaking again； still in that imperturbable evenness which so rasped his nerves； for all its mellow resonance。 But this time there was a sting； of the sharpest； in the words themselves。
〃Oh； you forgot your marked money； Mr。 Irwin；〃 Mary said。
The lawyer wheeled； and stood staring at the speaker with a certain sheepishness of expression that bore witness to the completeness of his discomfiture。 Without a word； after a long moment in which he perceived intently the delicate； yet subtly energetic； loveliness of this slender woman； he walked back to the desk； picked up the money； and restored it to the bill…case。 This done； at last he spoke； with a new respect in his voice； a quizzical smile on his rather thin lips。
〃Young woman；〃 he said emphatically； 〃you ought to have been a lawyer。〃 And with that laudatory confession of her skill； he finally took his departure； while Mary smiled in a triumph she was at no pains to conceal； and Aggie sat gaping astonishment over the surprising turn of events。
It was the latter volatile person who ended the silence that followed on the lawyer's going。
〃You've darn near broke my heart；〃 she cried； bouncing up violently； 〃letting all that money go out of the house。。。。 Say； how did you know it was marked？〃
〃I didn't；〃 Mary replied； blandly； 〃but it was a pretty good guess； wasn't it？ Couldn't you see that all he wanted was to get the letters； and have us take the marked money？ Then； my simple young friend； we would have been arrested very neatly indeedfor blackmail。〃
Aggie's innocent eyes rounded in an amazed consternation； which was not at all assumed。
〃Gee！〃 she cried。 〃That would have been fierce！ And now？〃 she questioned； apprehensively。
Mary's answer repudiated any possibility of fear。
〃And now；〃 she explained contentedly； 〃he really will go to our lawyer。 There； he will pay over that same marked money。 Then； he will get the letters he wants so much。 And； just because it's a strictly business transaction between two lawyers； with everything done according to legal ethics〃
〃What's legal ethics？〃 Aggie demanded； impetuously。 〃They sound some tasty！〃 With the comment； she dropped weakly into a chair。
Mary laughed in care…free enjoyment； as well she might after winning the victory in such a battle of wits。
〃Oh；〃 she said； happily； 〃you just get it legally； and you get twice as much！〃
〃And it's actually the same old game！〃 Aggie mused。 She was doing her best to get a clear understanding of the matter； though to her it was all a mystery most esoteric。
Mary reviewed the case succinctly for the other's enlightenment。
〃Yes； it's the same game precisely；〃 she affirmed。 〃A shameless old roue makes love to you； and he writes you a stack of silly letters。〃
The pouting lips of the listener took on a pathetic droop； and her voice quivered as she spoke with an effective semblance of virginal terror。
〃He might have ruined my life！〃
Mary continued without giving much attention to these histrionics。
〃If you had asked him for all this money for the return of his letters； it would have been blackmail； and we'd have gone to jail in all human probability。 But we did no such thingno； indeed！ What we did wasn't anything like that in the eyes of the law。 What we did was merely to have your lawyer take steps toward a suit for damages for breach of promise of marriage for the sum of ten thousand dollars。 Then； his lawyer appears in behalf of General Hastings； and there follow a number of conferences between the legal representatives of the opposing parties。 By means of these conferences； the two legal gentlemen run up very respectable bills of expenses。 In the end； we get our ten thousand dollars； and the flighty old General gets back his letters。。。 。 My dear；〃 Mary concluded vaingloriously； 〃we're inside the law； and so we're perfectly safe。 And there you are！〃
CHAPTER XI。 THE THIEF。
Mary remained in joyous spirits after her victorious matching of brains against a lawyer of high standing in his profession。 For the time being； conscience was muted by gratified ambition。 Her thoughts just then were far from the miseries of the past； with their evil train of consequences in the present。 But that past was soon to be recalled to her with a vividness most terrible。
She had entered the telephone…booth； which she had caused to be installed out of an extra closet of her bedroom for the sake of greater privacy on occasion； and it was during her absence from the drawing…room that Garson again came into the apartment； seeking her。 On being told by Aggie as to Mary's whereabouts； he sat down to await her return； listening without much interest to the chatter of the adventuress。。。。 It was just then that the maid appeared。
〃There's a girl wants to see Miss Turner；〃 she explained。
The irrepressible Aggie put on her most finically elegant air。
〃Has she
