“If you blurt out such a thing against the order of the court you will be jailed for contempt, and the jury will be forbidden to believe you, will be told to forget what you have said.” He shook his head mockingly. “No, Lucia, my dear, there’s no way out. I have told you this simply in order that you might appreciate the pains I have taken.” He laughed a little. “What a thoughtful husband you have!” He was still sitting, watching her with a cruel satisfaction; but she was trembling, broken, her knees yielding beneath her. By littles she sank into her chair, and put her head down upon her arms and wept bitterly. Her husband watched her from across the table and puffed at his cigar. Then Jeff Ranney opened the parlor door and came into the room. Viles, at the sound of the opening door, looked up in surprise, looked toward the kitchen through which Jeff had disappeared, looked at Jeff again. “What were you doing there?” he demanded, coming to his feet in sudden anger. “Listening to you talk,” said Jeff equably. “Listening? How long?” “Oh, I came right around the house and in the front door, soon as I went out the back. Heard all you said, I guess.” Lucia had stopped crying; she lifted her head and dried her eyes and looked at Jeff. He looked down at her and smiled, a reassuring smile that gave her somehow comfort. Viles swung toward him, cried aloud, “You dog! I’ll teach you manners!” “Yes, sir,” said Jeff slowly. “I’d like right well to mix it up with you.” Viles stopped in his tracks; the man was convulsed and shaking with his own ferocious rage. “But it ain’t fair to pick on you,” Jeff decided; “you’re such a fool.” Lucia came to her feet, turned to Jeff appealingly. “You heard what he said?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Is it true? Can he do this? Is the law that way?” Viles reached toward his wife, would have taken her arm. “Lucia!” he cried. “Come away from here. Come away from here with me.” But Jeff put an arm between them, swept the big man back against the table. For an instant no one of them moved. Then Jeff said slowly, “I had a lawsuit once, so I happen to know. What he says is all right. On private conversations. But you see, this wa’n’t private. I heard.” “You heard?” she whispered, not understanding. Jeff nodded. “Sure. And I can tell anything I heard; and I guess--not sure, but it don’t matter much, anyhow--I guess you can tell it, too, if I heard what he said.” He was looking down at her, had for the moment forgotten her husband. But Lucia had not forgotten, and it was Lucia’s cry that warned Jeff. Viles was tugging a pistol from his pocket. Jeff swung his right leg upward, kicked cunningly at the big man’s hand. The pistol flew across the room; and Viles, roaring with pain, swung in at Jeff to grapple him. They came breast to breast, stood thus for an instant, each straining terribly, exerting utmost strength.