"I do not care to go into details, Mr. Prale," he said. "Then it is the truth!" Prale said. "The big criminal lawyer is not so big but that others can force him to do as they please." "Let us say as I please, Mr. Prale." "Then you think that you have a good reason for withdrawing?" "I do." "In other words, something has been told you that convinced you I am not a fit client. Is that it? And, instead of telling me what it is, and giving me a chance to refute the charge or explain, you simply take the easiest course and believe my enemies. Do you call that an example of the square deal?" "Let us not talk about it further, Mr. Prale," Coadley replied. "I feel quite sure that you have a complete understanding of the situation." "But I have not! I seem to be able to understand nothing in regard to this affair of which I am the central figure. I would give half my fortune, I believe, to have an explanation and be able to set things right." "No doubt you would be willing to give half your fortune to set things right!" Coadley said. "It is your privilege, of course, to say that you do not understand. Mr. Prale, you must see that this interview is painful to me, and it must be painful to you. Why prolong it?" "As far as I am concerned, this interview may be terminated at once, sir!" Sidney Prale exclaimed. "I'll send you a check for your services as soon as you submit your bill; and please do not neglect to do so at once. I'll inform you as soon as possible of the name of the man I select to fill your legal shoes in this matter. That is satisfactory? Very well. Murk!" Murk hurried in from the adjoining room when he heard Sidney Prale's call. "Show Mr. Coadley to the hall door, Murk!" Sidney Prale said. "And while you are about it, please close that ventilator in the corner of the room. It creates a draft, I am sure, and Mr. Coadley already has cold feet!" The attorney glared at Prale, and then got up and walked quickly across to the door, which the grinning Murk held open to let him pass out. CHAPTER XX UP THE RIVER Coadley had not gone for more than an hour when Detective Jim Farland arrived at the hotel and made his way immediately to Sidney Prale's suite. He found Prale pacing the floor angrily, and Murk sitting in a corner and watching him. The police detective, after doing duty for a few days, had been withdrawn, as it seemed evident that Prale had no intention of jumping his bail or eluding trial in any other way. "What's the trouble now?" Farland asked. "Coadley has just been here," Prale replied. "He has quit us. Our friends the enemy have reached him." "You couldn't get any sort of an explanation out of him?" Farland asked. "Nothing at all. He simply informed me that he was done, and that I had to get another lawyer."