The banker's wife wearily nodded assent.

"Yes, I realize that," she said, "but the disgrace of arrest--I can't
stand it, Annie! I can't go to prison even if it's only for a minute."
Holding out a trembling hand, she went on: "Give me back the letter.
I'll leave New York to-night--I'll go to Europe--I'll send it to Judge
Brewster from Paris." Looking anxiously into her companion's face, she
pleaded: "You'll trust me to do that, won't you? Give it to me,
please--you can trust me."

Her hand was still extended, but Annie ignored it.

"No--no," she said, shaking her head, "I can't give it to you--how can
I? Don't you understand what the letter means to me?"

"Have pity!" cried the banker's wife, almost beside herself. "You can
tell them when I'm out of the country. Don't ask me to make this
sacrifice now--don't ask me--don't!"

Annie was beginning to lose patience. The woman's selfishness angered
her. With irritation, she said:

"You've lost your nerve, and you don't know what you're saying. Howard's
life comes before you--me--or anybody. You know that!"

"Yes--yes," cried Alicia desperately, "I know that. I'm only asking you
to wait. I--I ought to have left this morning--that's what I should have
done--gone at once. Now it's too late, unless you help me----"

"I'll help you all I can," replied the other doggedly, "but I've
promised Judge Brewster to clear up this matter to-night."

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. Captain Clinton entered,
followed by Detective Sergeant Maloney. Alicia shrank back in alarm.

"I thought Judge Brewster was here," said the captain, glancing
suspiciously round the room.

"I'll send for him," said Annie, touching a bell.

"Well, where's your mysterious witness?" demanded the captain
sarcastically.

He looked curiously at Alicia.

"This is Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Senior," said Annie, "my husband's
stepmother."

The captain made a deferential salute. Bully as he was, he knew how to
be courteous when it suited his purpose. He had heard enough of the
wealthy banker's aristocratic wife to treat her with respect.

"Beg pardon, m'm; I wanted to tell the judge I was going."

The servant entered.

"Tell Judge Brewster that Captain Clinton is going," said Annie.

Alicia, meantime, was once more on the verge of collapse. The long
threatened _expose_ was now at hand. In another moment the judge and
perhaps her husband would come in, and Annie would hand them the letter
w