"It is quite evident that you have ascertained by some means that my daughter is exceedingly wealthy, and you have managed to delude her into the belief that your conduct is altruistic and above reproach.

But you make a great mistake if you believe that I can be set aside as an incompetent fool.

I shall go straight from this office to that of the District Attorney, and lay the whole of the facts before him.

I----" "Does your lordship wish to dispense with my services ?" broke in Schmidt, speaking without flurry or heat.

The angry Earl choked, but remained silent, and the lawyer kept on in the same even tone: "May I suggest, Mr.Steingall, that you and Mr.Curtis and Mr.Devar should step into another room while I have a brief consultation with Lord Valletort and Count Vassilan ?" "I cannot become a party to any arrangement----" began Steingall, but Otto Schmidt bowed him and his companions out suavely.