"I will not take your advice, Mr. Wilkes--whether earnest or otherwise. I observe, Andrews, that you are still there. There are one or two remarks which I wish to make to Mr. Wilkes in private. Once more, are you going to leave this room?" The managing man looked at the lawyer as if for advice and help in the moment of his hesitation. "Perhaps," said Mr. Wilkes, replying to his unspoken question, "you had better go. You will commit yourself to nothing by going." "Whereas," observed Elmore, with his smiling glance fixed on the managing man, "you will commit yourself to a good deal by not going, because I shall not only put you out of this door, but into the street. So far as this office is concerned, that will be the end of you. I will take steps which will ensure your never entering it again." After another brief moment of hesitation, with a glance of what was very like reproach towards the lawyer, Andrews quitted the room, with the air of one who was both bewildered and hurt. So soon as he had gone Mr. Wilkes observed: "Mr. Elmore, you are taking a very great deal upon yourself; you certainly have the courage of youth, but be warned by me, don't take too much. If it is shown that your uncle's depositions are not what you are taking it for granted they are, your position will be rendered more difficult by the attitude you are now taking up." "I care nothing for any warning which comes from you, Mr. Wilkes. Why did my uncle commit suicide?" "What do you mean by asking me such a question? Do you imagine that if I knew I should tell you?" "Does that mean that you know?" "It means nothing of the sort; but it does mean that if I had any such secret knowledge, the only person to whom I should breathe a word of it would be his daughter." "That you certainly would not do. Miss Patterson's heartfelt prayer is that she may never know. That he had some shameful reason is plain; if it can be kept from her it shall be; if it reaches her through you, you will deserve to be whipped." "Mr. Elmore, I knew your father." "That's more, Mr. Wilkes, than I ever did." "His end was like your uncle's." "So I learned from my uncle before--he ended. And it is because the shame of what he did seems to rest on me, in the mouths of such as you, that I am resolved to shield my cousin--if I can. I imagine that, in a strictly scientific sense, you are, in part, responsible for my uncle's fate." "How do you arrive at that--somewhat startling conclusion?" "You aided and abetted him in what he did." "Indeed! As how?" "I happen to know that you were more than once his companion when he was in the society of certain notorious women, with whose character you were undoubtedly as well acquainted as he was." "And if I was--what then?" "If, on more than one occasion, A is in the company of B when B is in the act of committing a crime, what is the inference we draw as regards A?" "You really are a remarkable young man!"