lifetime
of decalog breaking, only to go to smash like a crushed
eggshell when he commits the crime of being found out.
--From the Note Book of a Dreamer.

THE HERO IS PAINED TO FIND THAT EVEN IN A WELL-REGULATED WORLD THE GODS
ARE JUST, AND OF OUR PLEASANT VICES MAKE INSTRUMENTS TO PLAGUE US

Going back across the park Jeff trod the hilltops. He was not thinking
about society, except that small unit of it represented by a slender,
golden girl who had just bidden him good-bye. And because his heart sang
within him his footsteps turned toward the office of his cousin. There
had been between them of late an estrangement. Since the lawyer had been
appointed general attorney for the Transcontinental and had formed a
partnership with Scott, thus bringing to the firm the business of the
public utility corporations, James had not found much time for Jeff. He
was a member of the most important law firm on the Pacific Coast,
judged by the business it was doing, and he had definitely cut loose
politically from his former associates. His cousin blamed himself for
the change in their personal relations, and he meant to bring things
back to the old basis if he could.

It was past office hours, but a light in the window of the junior
member's private office gave promise that James might be in. Leaving
the elevator at the fourth floor, he walked down the corridor toward the
suite occupied by the firm.

Before he reached the door Jeff stopped. Something unusual was happening
within. There came to him the sounds of shuffling feet, of furniture
being smashed, of an angry oath. Almost at once there was a thud, as
if something heavy had fallen. The listener judged that a live body was
thrashing around actively. The impact of blows, a heavy grunt, a second
stifled curse, decided Farnum. Pushing through the outer office, he
entered the one usually occupied by James.

Two men were on the floor, one astride of the other. The man on top was
driving home heavy jarring blows against his opponent's face and head.
Jeff ran forward and dragged him away.

"Good heavens, Sam! What's the matter?" his friend demanded in surprise.

Miller waited panting, his fists still doubled, the lust of battle in
his eyes.

"The damned cad! The damned cad!" was all he could get out.

From the floor James Farnum was rising. His forehead, his cheek, and his
lips were bleeding from cuts. One of his eyes was closing rapidly. There
was a dogg