"Well, I guess I won't wait--if you'll be so kind as to tell him I was here? And I'll just put this on his desk under the paperweight--he'll understand when he sees it," said Archie, depositing his bundle of papers on the desk as he spoke, and very ready to beat a retreat. But Steven, eying him, suddenly growled out, "You're Judge Lewis' son, ain't you?" "Why, yes--you know my father, of course--I've often heard him speak of you," said Archie, conventionally, edging off. "Sit down," said Steven, imperiously motioning. "Gwynne'll be along in a little. You ought to be a lawyer, young man--your father's a lawyer. I haven't seen him for years--I guess he's a good deal changed. Law kind of changes people; it's seldom a man takes it up and stays honest. Sit down; Gwynne'll be here presently." ("And so," said Archie, "I sat down. The fact is, the old fellow looked sort of queer, and though I never heard of his _doing_ anything, I didn't much like to leave him alone with those two old ladies--you never can tell, you know.") "I'd like to see the judge," said Steven. "Why, I'm sure father'd be very pleased----" Steven waved an impatient gesture. "I'm not particular about seeing _him_," said he--and Archie used to repeat this part of the story in his father's presence with infinite relish--"But I'd like to have his _opinion_, in a matter of--a matter of _debt_!" The two sisters exchanged a horrified glance; they knew what Steven's errand was, now, and thought he was about to reveal the awful secret, and tarnish the name of Gwynne forever. But that was by no means Steven's intention; he was as tender of the family honour as they, but much more confident of his own knowledge of the world and diplomatic abilities. Archie, upon whose youthfully sharp wits none of this by-play was lost, sat wondering what was to come next. "This debt--or--er--this indebtedness," said Steven elaborately, "is--er--it should be, in short, collected--that is--er--measures should be taken by which it--could be, in short, collected." He fixed a profound look on the young man, pausing while he considered in what other roundabout terms he could present the situation. "Is the fellow that owes you responsible--solid, I mean, you know?" asked Archie, beginning to be interested. "If he's on a salary, or got a good business you might attach----" "I--I--I'm not prepared to state," said Steven, appalled at the briskness of Archie's deductions. "I'm just supposing a case, you understand." "Oh!" said Archie, suppressing a grin. "Well--ah--are you supposing it to be a large sum, Mr. Gwynne?" "A debt's a debt," said Steven, with magnificent brevity; he could not resist a sidelong glance at Eleanor and Mollie, commanding their admiration.