"I do not think," said the unruffled Judge, "that they will go into court for any purpose—unless their burden of good nature is rendered intolerable. They can afford to appeal to their own conscience, because they are morally clear." "Of the North Bridge wreck?" "Of the North Bridge wreck, Mr. Huber. Granting that those letters are admissible evidence—which I shouldn’t grant, if I were in the case—the one is not an expert declaration; it is merely an expression of opinion from persons with many grades of rails to sell and naturally anxious to sell their most expensive and most profitable grade. As for the other letter, it is informed by the knowledge of what prompted the rail-makers’ opinion, and in itself offers only a counter-opinion based on the writer’s long and successful experience with the cheaper rails." "Yes—but the accident happened." "Exactly: it merely happened and it was an accident. In other words, it was something unforeseen and contrary to the experience of the writer of the second letter." The Judge waited a moment for a reply but, as Luke gave none, presently continued: "Now, the course I propose—quite personally, you will understand—is honorable, harmless, and in the best interests of all concerned: you, us, and even the public." "What is it?" asked Luke. "All that I would grant my friends is the return of those letters, which are their own property, and are not admissible evidence in a court of law. That is all I would grant them. On their part, I should exact a pledge from them to have better rails laid throughout the suspected sections of the M. & N. road." Luke’s eyes opened. "That’s all _I_ asked them to do," he said. "Ah, yes; but to do it at once would be taken as a public confession of guilt—and my friends are not guilty. You will see that the coroner’s jury says so." Luke relapsed. "It will," he said. "I’m sure of it." "Therefore, the thing must be done slowly and discreetly, and meanwhile we must protect the public by an increase of track-walkers and road-inspectors." "Would your friends," inquired Luke, "instruct the road not to fight the damage claims growing out of the wreck?" "Of course not," chuckled Stein. "You are too good a lawyer to expect that, Mr. Huber, and too good a lawyer not to know how the sorrow or wounds of the claimants—yes, and the big appetites of their attorneys, too, I’m afraid—exaggerate their losses on the one hand and the riches of the company on the other. No, no; the most we could get for them would be liberal settlements. We mustn’t bankrupt the road. There are more widows owning stock in it than there are widows caused by this wreck." "Well," said Luke, "I’m afraid you don’t convince me, Judge." "Not if I could promise all this?" "No. You see, there was a smaller wreck some months ago, and the additional track-walkers and inspectors were promised the public then."