McElwin and Sawyer entered the long composing room, looked about and then walked slowly toward the law office. "Come in," said Lyman, as they approached the open door. "You are not alone," McElwin remarked, as he stepped in, followed by Sawyer. "Neither are you," said Lyman. "Sit down." "We have not come to sit down, sir." "Then you must pardon my not rising. This languid spring air makes me tired." "Sir, we wish to see you in your private office." "And that is where you find me. This was my public law office, but now it is my private editorial room." "But your privacy is invaded," said the banker, glancing at Warren. "So I have observed," Lyman replied, looking at Sawyer. "Ah, but enough of this. Can we see you alone." "I don't believe I'd waste any more time beating the bush," said Sawyer. "Let's come to the point." "That's not a bad suggestion," Lyman replied. "We have about thrashed all the leaves off the bush." The banker cleared his throat: "Mr. Lyman, even after a night of worried reflection, I am even now hardly able to realize the monstrous outrage that has been committed at the instance of a theologic imbecile, helped by a travesty on law enacted by a general assembly of ditch diggers and plowmen." "That is a very good speech, Mr. McElwin. But I don't know that any outrage has been committed. Let us call it an irregularity." "We'll call it an infernal shame," Sawyer declared, swelling. "No," Warren struck in, "call it a great piece of news gone wrong. If I had my way it would be creeping down between column rules right now." "Infamous!" cried the banker. "Don't you dare to print a word of it." "Oh, I'd dare all right enough, if Lyman's modesty didn't forbid it." "Then, sir, I must condemn your impudence, and commend Mr. Lyman's consideration." "We are still beating the bush," Sawyer broke in. "And no scared rabbit has run out," said Lyman. "We might be after a wolf instead of a rabbit," Sawyer replied. The banker gave him a look of warning. "Yes," said Lyman, "you might hunt a wolf and find a panther." "I take that as a threat," the banker spoke up. "Oh, not at all," Lyman replied. "It was merely to help carry out a figure of speech." "Let's get to business," said Sawyer. "All right," Lyman agreed. "But you don't expect me to state the object of your visit." "No, sir. We can do that easy enough," said McElwin. Then he thrust his hand into his pocket and drew forth a paper. "Mr. Lyman, we have here a petition to the Chancery Court, asking for the setting aside of a ridiculous marriage, the laughing-stock of all matrimonial ceremonies. The entrapped lady's name has been affixed, and we now ask, sir, that you append your signature." He stepped forward to the table near which Lyman was sitting, and spread out the paper. Lyman smiled and shook his head. "This is so sudden," he remarked, and Warren tittered. "Sudden, sir?" "Yes, not unexpected, but sudden. I must have time to think."