llions and the issue of
such a suit as the one Woodman had brought and on which he had spent so
much of his time and money was to Bivens a mere bagatelle.

The more Stuart pondered over this extraordinary offer, the more
completely he was puzzled. He sought for outside influences that might
move him to such an act. It might be Nan--it must be! Her letter surely
made the explanation reasonable. She knew this suit was an obstacle in
the way of their meeting. If she had made up her mind to remove that
obstacle, she would do it. Her will had grown in imperious power with
each indulgence.

During the past winter she had become the sensation of the metropolis.
Her wealth, her beauty, her palaces, and her entertainments had made
her the subject of endless comment. She had set a pace for extravagance
which made the old leaders stand aghast. And the one thing which made
her letter well nigh resistless was that he alone of all the world knew
the inner life of this beautiful woman whose name was on a thousand
lips. Her worldly wise mother might have guessed it but she had been
dead for the past five years, and the secret was his alone.

He read her letter over again and looked thoughtfully at the pile of
legal documents in the case of _Woodman against the American Chemical
Company_ lying on his desk.

"It's her work beyond a doubt!" he said at last, "and the doctor will
never believe it."

He was waiting the arrival of his old friend for a conference over
Bivens's offer of compromise and he dreaded the ordeal. If he should
refuse this final chance of settlement he would make a mistake that
could not be undone. The result was even worse than he could possibly
foresee.

"So the little weasel has offered to compromise my suit for half the
sum we named, eh?" the doctor asked in triumph.

"I assure you that if the case comes to its final test you are certain
to lose."

"So you have said again and again, my boy"--was the good-natured reply,
"but his sudden terror and this offer shows that we have won already
and he knows it. Greater thieves, who have ruined their competitors in
the same way, are urging him to settle this suit and prevent others
from being brought."

"I don't think so."

"It's as plain as daylight."

"There's another motive."

"Nonsense," persisted the doctor, his whole being aglow with
enthusiasm, "Bivens has seen the hand-writing on the wall. When the
American people are once aroused their wrath will s