Secluded in his private office, the judge was busy at his desk, finishing a letter. He folded it up, addressed an envelope, then lit a cigar and looked at the time. It was three o'clock. The day's work was about over and he smiled with satisfaction as he thought of the automobile ride in the park he would enjoy before dressing and going to his club for dinner. He felt in singularly good spirits that afternoon. He had just won in the court a very complicated case which meant not only a handsome addition to his bank account, but a signal triumph over his legal opponents. Certainly, fortune smiled on him. He had no other immediate cases on hand to worry about. He could look forward to a few weeks of absolute rest. He struck a bell on his desk and a clerk entered. Handing him the note he had just written, he said: "Have this sent at once by messenger." "Very well, judge," answered the clerk. "By the bye," frowned the lawyer, "has that woman been in to-day?" "Yes--she sat in the outer office all morning, trying to see you. We said you were out of town, but she did not believe it. She sat there till she got tired. She had no idea that you went out by another stairway." "Humph," growled the lawyer; "a nice thing to be besieged in this manner. If she annoys me much longer, I shall send for the police." At that moment another clerk entered the room. "What is it, Mr. Jones?" demanded the lawyer. "A lady to see you, judge," said the clerk, handing him a card. The lawyer glanced at the bit of pasteboard, and said immediately: "Oh, yes, show her in." The two clerks left the room and Judge Brewster, after a glance in the mirror to re-adjust his cravat, turned to greet his visitor. The door opened and Alicia entered. She was faultlessly gowned, as usual, but her manner was flurried and agitated. Evidently something had happened to upset her, and she had come to make her husband's lawyer the confidant of her troubles. The judge advanced gallantly and pointed to a chair. "Good morning, my dear Mrs. Jeffries, how do you do?" "Is Mr. Jeffries here?" asked Alicia hurriedly. "Not yet," he replied, smiling. "This is an unexpected pleasure. I think it is the first time you have graced my office with your presence." "How quiet it is here!" she exclaimed, looking around nervously. "It is hard to believe this is the very centre of the city." Taking the seat offered to her, she went on: "Oh, judge, we are dreadfully worried." "You mean about the Underwood case?" Alicia nodded. "Yes, Mr. Jeffries is terribly upset. As if the coming trial and all the rest of the scandal were not enough. But now we have to face something even worse, something that affects me even more than my husband. Really, I'm frantic about it." "What's happened now?" asked the lawyer calmly. "That woman is going on the stage, that's all!" she snapped. "H'm," said the lawyer calmly.