Mr. Jeffries turned angrily. "How can you think of such a thing? I can't permit my wife to come in contact with a woman of that character." Judge Brewster, who was listening in spite of the fact that he was seemingly engrossed in his papers, pursed his lips. "Oh, come," he said with a forced laugh, "she's not as bad as all that!" "I'm sure she isn't," said Alicia emphatically. "She must be amenable to reason." The banker's wife was not altogether bad. Excessive vanity and ambition had steeled her heart and stifled impulses that were naturally good, but otherwise she was not wholly devoid of feeling. She was really sorry for this poor little woman who was fighting so bravely to save her husband. No doubt she had inveigled Howard into marrying her, but she--Alicia--had no right to sit in judgment on her for that. If the girl had been ambitious to marry above her, in what way was she more guilty than she herself had been in marrying a man she did not love, simply for his wealth and social position? Besides, Alicia was herself sorely troubled. Her conscience told her that a word from her might set the whole matter right. She might be able to prove that Underwood committed suicide. She knew she was a coward and worse than a coward because she dare not speak that word. The more she saw her husband's anger the less courage she had to do it. In any case, she argued to herself, Howard had confessed. If he shot Underwood there was no suicide, so why should she incriminate herself needlessly? But there was no reason why she should not show some sympathy for the poor girl who, after all, was only doing what any good wife should do. Aloud she repeated: "I'll see the girl and talk to her. She must listen to reason." "Reason!" exploded the banker angrily. "How can you expect reason from a woman who hounds us, dogs our footsteps, tries to compel us to--take her up?" Judge Brewster, who had apparently paid no attention to the banker's remarks, now turned around. Hesitatingly he said: "I think you do her an injustice, Jeffries. She comes every day in the hope that your feelings toward your son have changed. She wishes to give color to the belief that his father's lawyers are championing his cause. She was honest enough to tell me so. You know her movements are closely watched by the newspapers and she takes good care to let the reporters think that she comes here to discuss with me the details of her husband's defense." The banker shifted impatiently on his chair. Contemptuously he said: "The newspapers which I read don't give her the slightest attention. If they did I should refuse to read them." With growing irritation he went on: "It's no use talking about her any more. What are we going to do about this latest scandal? This woman is going on the stage to be exhibited all over the country and she proposes to use the family name." "There is nothing to prevent her," said the lawyer dryly. The banker jumped to his feet and exclaimed angrily: