"Well, the trial came up at last. That man Harbert is a devil. He had twenty witnesses, any one of whom could have convicted your father. How he got onto them, I can't imagine. He uncovered every deal we've--er--he had in Chicago and--" "Then he really was guilty!" groaned Graydon. "Yes, my boy, I knew it, of course. They could not force me to testify against him, however. I was too smart for them. Well, to make it short, he was sentenced five weeks ago. The motion for a new trial was overruled. He went to Joliet. If he had been a popular alderman or ward boss he would have been out yet on continuances, spending most of his sentence in some fashionable hotel, to say the least." "Is he--wearing stripes?" "Yes, it's the fashion there." "For God's sake, don't jest. For five years!" The young man sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands. "There'll be something off for good behaviour, my boy. He wanted to behave well before he went there, so I suppose he'll keep it up. The whole town was against him. He didn't have a friend." "How did you escape?" demanded Graydon, looking up suddenly. "State's evidence?" "No, not even after he tried to put most of the blame upon me. He tried that, my boy. I just let him talk. It saved me from prison. Usually the case with the man who keeps his mouth closed." "But, Elias--Elias, why have I been kept in the dark? Why did he not tell me about it? Why has--" "You forget, Graydon, that you turned from him first. You were really the first to condemn him. He wanted you to stay away from this country until he is free. That was his plan. He didn't want to see you. Now he wants you to come to him. He wants you to bring Jane Cable to see him." "What!" "Yes, that's it. I believe he intends to tell her the names of her father and mother. I think he wants her to forgive him and he wants to hear both of you say it to him." Graydon stared blankly from the window. The old clerk was smiling to himself, an evil, gloating smile that would have shocked Bansemer had he turned suddenly. "He wants both of us to--to come to the penitentiary?" muttered the son. "Yes, as soon as possible. Do you think she'll go?" demanded Droom anxiously. "I don't know. I'm afraid not." "Not even to learn who her parents are?" "It might tempt her. But she hates father." "Well, she can gloat over him, can't she? That ought to be some satisfaction. Talk it over with her. She's here, isn't she?" "Elias, do you know who her parents were?" asked Graydon quickly. "I've thought you knew as much about it as father." The old man's eyes shifted. "It's a silly question to ask of me. I was not a member of the Four Hundred, my boy." "Nor was my father. Yet you think he knows." "He's a much smarter man than I, Graydon. You'll go with me to see him?" "Yes. I can't speak for Miss Cable."