“I believe you’ve done your worst already—why not let me know the names of your witnesses?” “You know the reason. We wish the whole sum ourselves, and have no fancy to its being scattered all over Duke’s. I give you my honour, Timms—and you know what _that_ is—I give you my honour that we hold this testimony in reserve.” “In which case the District Attorney will bring the witnesses on the stand; and we shall gain nothing, after all, by your withdrawal.” “The District Attorney has left the case very much to me. I have prepared his brief, and have taken care to keep to myself enough to turn the scales. If I quit, Mary Monson will be acquitted—if I stay, she will be hanged. A pardon for _her_ will be out of the question—she is too high among the ‘upper ten’ to expect _that_—besides, she is not an anti-renter.” “I wonder the thieves do not combine, as well as other folks, and control votes!” “They do—these anti-renters belong to the gangs, and have already got their representatives in high places. They are ‘land-pirates,’ while _your_ client goes for the old stockings. The difference in principle is by no means important, as any clear-headed man may see. It is getting late, Timms.” “I cannot believe that Mary Monson is the sort of person you take her for! Williams, I’ve always looked upon you, and treated you, as a friend. You may remember how I stood by you in the Middlebury case?” “Certainly—you did your duty by me in that matter, and I have not forgot it.” The cause alluded to was an action for a “breach of promise,” which, at one time, threatened all of Williams’s “future usefulness,” as it is termed; but which was put to sleep in the end by means of Timms’s dexterity in managing the “out-door” points of a difficult case. “Well, then, be _my_ friend in this matter. I will be honest with you, and acknowledge that, as regards my client, I have had—that is provided she is acquitted, and her character comes out fair—that I have had—and _still_ have, for that matter—what——” “Are called ‘ulterior views.’ I understand you, Timms, and have suspected as much these ten days. A great deal depends on what you consider a fair character. Taking the best view of her situation, Mary Monson will have been tried for murder and arson.” “Not if acquitted of the first. I have the District Attorney’s promise to consent to a _nolle prosequi_ on the last indictment, if we traverse the first successfully.” “In which case Mary Monson will have been tried for murder only,” returned Williams, smiling. “Do you really think, Timms, that your heart is soft enough to receive and retain an impression as deep as that made by the seal of the court?”