There has been some evil connection between Scammon and my son.

What it is Scammon has refused to tell me.

I will first of all tell you what I _do_ know.

I am telling you, of course, on the assumption that you are all young men of honor, and that you will treat a father's confidence as men of honor should do." The boys bowed, wondering what was coming.

Lawyer Ripley thereupon plunged into a narration of the happenings of the day before, telling it all with a lawyer's exactness of statement.
"And now I will ask you," wound up Mr.Ripley, "whether you can tell me anything about the hold that Scammon seems to have exercised over my son ?" "That's an embarrassing question, sir," Dick replied, after there had been a long pause.
"Do you know the nature of that hold ?" "Yes, sir." "May I ask how you know ?" "I overheard a conversation, one night, between your son and Tip Scammon." "What was the substance of that conversation ?" pressed the lawyer.
"I don't quite see how I can tell you, sir," Dick responded slowly and painfully.