"There will be no difficulty in having the divorce decree granted to Mrs. Buckner--now Mrs. Gorham--set aside whenever you say the word. Here is the affidavit of Buckner himself, and the fellow is not only willing but eager to push the case through." Covington took the document in his hand and examined it carefully. Then: "How would you undertake to do it?" he asked. "It is a principle of our firm not to discuss methods with our clients. Results are what count, and our reputation for securing these is perhaps a sufficient guarantee that my statement is based on facts." "Your position is undoubtedly fully justified," Covington replied, a slight expression of amusement showing in his face. "We hardly need to discuss that phase of it, however, as this is probably as far as I shall ask you to go." "Oh, Mr. Covington, you wouldn't drop a nice case like this, would you?" Levy begged. "There is a lot of money in it for both of us." Covington answered him, coldly: "I believe the terms of our business arrangement were clearly understood at the beginning." "Yes, but it is such a nice case," Levy still pleaded. "You need not appear in it at all if you don't want to. Mr. Buckner can become the plaintiff, and it need not cost you anything. We can make Mr. Gorham pay all the bills." "That's enough of that," was the sharp reply. "Now, what was it that you found out about Mrs. Gorham's early history?" Levy accepted the inevitable with equanimity, contenting himself with a gesture which expressed more than words. "I have learned that after her child's death Mrs. Gorham, then Mrs. Buckner, disappeared for a period of two weeks, during which time she is alleged to have lived in a prospector's shack alone with him. Do you catch the significance?" Covington again held out his hand, taking the second affidavit, which he scrutinized with the same care he gave the first. "This is merely the unconfirmed statement of a prejudiced party," he remarked; "it is of no value unless you could prove it." Levy smiled. "My dear Mr. Covington, we can prove anything--that is our business." "Well"--Covington rose--"you seem to have carried out your end of the affair." He drew a roll of bills from his pocket. "Here is the balance due you. If I decide to make use of these documents, I will see you again and make a trade. Kindly give me an acknowledgment of my payment." Levy held up a hand protestingly. "I explained before that we never give receipts--" "Oh, yes; it had slipped my mind," Covington acquiesced. "I hope to see you again soon, Mr. Covington," Levy said in parting. "It is a nice case, such a nice case." The departing client gave no evidence that he heard the words, but after pushing his way to the street he drew a long breath, which might have indicated relief after sitting in the close office, or satisfaction that he held in his possession new weapons which could easily be made useful in case of need. XVI