"Am I to assume that the newspapers were correct in stating that you mean to support my cause with--I may say, to the full extent of your powers?" "It depends on circumstances, Mr. Pless." "Circumstances?" He eyed me rather coldly, as if to say, "What right have you to suggest circumstances?" "Perhaps I should have said that it depends somewhat on what my powers represent." He crossed his slender legs comfortably and looked at me with a queer little tilt of his left eyebrow, but with an unsmiling visage. He was too cocksure of himself to grant me even so much as an ingratiating smile. Was not I a glory-seeking American and he one of the glorious? It would be doing me a favour to let me help him. "I trust you will understand, Mr. Smart, that I do not ask a favour of you, but rather put myself under a certain obligation for the time being. You have become a land-owner in this country, and as such, you should ally yourself with the representative people of our land. It is not an easy matter for a foreigner to plant himself in our midst, so to speak,--as a mushroom,--and expect to thrive on limited favours. I can be of assistance to you. My position, as you doubtless know, is rather a superior one in the capital. An unfortunate marriage has not lessened the power that I possess as a birthright nor the esteem in which I am held throughout Europe. The disgraceful methods employed by my former wife in securing a divorce are well known to you, I take it, and I am gratified to observe that you frown upon them. I suppose you know the whole story?" "I think I do," said I, quietly. I have never known such consummate self-assurance as the fellow displayed. "Then you are aware that her father has defaulted under the terms of an ante-nuptial agreement. There is still due me, under the contract, a round million of your exceedingly useful dollars." "With the interest to be added," said the lawyer, thrumming on the chair-arm with his fingers something after the fashion my mother always employs in computing a simple sum in addition. "Certainly," said Mr. Pless, sharply. "Mr. Smart understands that quite clearly, Mr. Schymansky. It isn't necessary to enlighten him." The lawyer cleared his throat. I knew him at once for a shyster. Mr. Pless continued, addressing me. "Of course he will have to pay this money before his daughter may even hope to gain from me the right to share the custody of our little girl, who loves me devotedly. When the debt is fully liquidated, I may consent to an arrangement by which she shall have the child part of the time at least." "It seems to me she has the upper hand of you at present, however," I said, not without secret satisfaction. "She may be in America by this time."