Just a little automobile accident." "Jack, you home!" cried the Judge.

"My boy, but you have given us all a scare!" And then in affectionate concern, noticing his hands: "Nothing serious, I hope ?" "Nothing serious about the accident," said Jack, glancing at his mother.
Mrs.De Peyster glared at her son, then crossed to the safe, larger and more formidable than the one above from which she had been removing her jewels, took out a document and returned to the two men.

She had something of the ominous air of a tragedy queen who is foreshadowing an approaching climax.
"Judge Harvey, I do not care to go into explanations," said she.

"But I desire to give you an order and to have you be a witness to my act." "Of course, I am at your service, Caroline." "In the first place," she said, striving to speak calmly, "I beg to request my son to move such of his things as he may wish out of this house--and within the hour." "Certainly, mother," Jack said pleasantly.
"And to you, Judge Harvey,--I wish my son's allowance, which is paid through your office, to be discontinued from this moment." "Why--of course--just as you say," said the astonished Judge.

"But perhaps if the case were--" "This paper is my will," interrupted Mrs.De Peyster, holding up the document she had taken from the safe.