Squire Phin stood leaning against the edge of the table, very grave, and kept his silence. But there were two deep wrinkles between his eyes, and the lids narrowed slowly. On his own account the blatant, brutal bursting in of this man at the greatest, the sweetest, holiest moment of his life had shocked and angered him. The words that he wanted to speak to her were choking in his throat. On their account the presence of the man, his selfish stormings and threats and complaints, exasperated him in his pity for the trembling old man, and the sister, who was at her brother’s side as he tramped about the room, pleading with him to be silent and to explain to her. At last Captain Willard plumped himself down in the chair that his father had vacated and thumped his hard fist on the table. “The sum total is, father, you’ve got to settle with me,” he shouted. “You promised to protect me and you didn’t. It’s up to you to make good.” He had from time to time been casting angry glances at the lawyer. “If you’ve got any bus’ness here, Mr. Lawyer Look,” he said insolently, “I wish you’d ’tend to it and get out. My father and I don’t want audiences when we talk over family matters, and we don’t usually have audiences, either.” Squire Phin understood the dumb appeal in the eyes of the Judge. This unruly son had hold of one end of his secret and was tugging away vigorously. The father realised that the son had the right to demand certain explanations. But revelations made to this explosive person could not be kept away from the daughter. And over the Judge’s head swung the threat of the grim lawyer, sealed with its oath. With instant pity for the old man’s agony of apprehension, the Squire acted. He stepped into the affairs of the Willard family with the happy consciousness that now he had a right to be there. “Captain Kleber,” he said, “I have been retained by your father as his legal adviser. I have been that for some time. You may discuss family affairs with him at your leisure and in whatever privacy you wish. On account of the state of Judge Willard’s health he has left all his business affairs to me. The matter that you have mentioned is one of business. You will please come to my office with me, _now_.” He dwelt on the last word significantly. He took his hat from the table and went and stood by the door. When the lawyer had begun to speak the Captain hooked himself forward in his chair, his fingers clutching air, his face working with rage. “It was the only thing that King Bradish told me that I didn’t believe,” he shouted. “One of the Look family hired as a lawyer by my father? I swore it wasn’t so! If it is so, damme if I don’t make you all sick here in this place. If it is so----” “It certainly is so, Captain,” broke in the Squire, stepping back into the room. “You will kindly refrain from making any more comments on the matter. Come to my office with me.”