Part 7 (1/2)

Madam Corona s.h.i.+vered at this, not yet fully unmindful of her own recent forebodings. Obediently she took him to a room, and left him, the single comforting thought abiding with her, that she would have him all to herself during the whole of the following day.

When Messrs. Dudley and Bliss learned from Barnes that he had followed Dr. Medjora, and had seen him go into the building which had been destroyed by fire, their hope that possibly the newspaper accounts were erroneous, was dissipated.

”I knew it!” began the junior member. ”I knew that it was too good to be true. Think of that man's permitting himself to be burned to death just as we were about to get our chance. It's too exasperating.”

”It is annoying, Robert, of course,” said Mr. Dudley. ”Yet there is some comfort in the thought that he had the courtesy to pay us a retainer. That five hundred is most acceptable.”

”Oh! certainly, the money will come handy, but what is five hundred dollars to an opportunity such as this would have been?” Mr. Bliss was in a very bad humor.

”Robert,” began his partner, speaking seriously, ”you must not be so impatient. We are no worse off, at any rate, than before the man called upon us, so far as our profession goes, and we are better off than we would be if he had not called at all. You should be grateful for the good received, and not cry after lost possibilities.”

”Oh! well! I suppose you are right!” and throwing up both arms in a gesture of disgust, he went to his desk and began writing furiously. A long silence was maintained. These two men contrasted greatly. They had met each other during their law-school days, and were mutually attracted. Mr. Dudley was a hard student who had realized early in life that the best fruit comes to him, who climbs, rather than to him who shakes the tree; whilst that man who lies at ease, basking in the suns.h.i.+ne and waiting for ripe plums to fall into his mouth, is likely to go hungry. He was methodical, persistent, patient, energetic. He wasted no time. Even during his office hours, if there were nothing else to occupy him, he would continue his studies, delving into the calf-bound tomes as though determined to be a thorough master of their contents.

Mr. Bliss was his ant.i.thesis, and yet he had just those qualifications which made him complement his partner, so that he strengthened the firm. He was a brilliant, rather than a deep student. He read rapidly, and had a remarkable memory, so that he had a superficial comprehension of many things, rather than a positive knowledge of a lesser number. He could be both rhetorical and oratorical, and, at a pinch, could blind a jury with a neat metaphor, where surer logic might have made a smaller impression, being less attractive. When addressing the jury, he would become so earnest, that by suggesting to his hearers that he himself was convinced of the truth of his utterances, he often swayed them to his wishes. He was quick, too, and keen, so that he eventually became justly celebrated for his cross-examinations. But at this time his greatness had scarcely begun to bud, and so he sat like a schoolboy in the dumps, whilst his graver partner, though equally disappointed at the prospect of losing a good case, showed not so much of his annoyance.

Presently Barnes entered with a telegram, which Mr. Bliss took, glad of anything to divert his thoughts. A moment after reading it he was greatly excited, and handing the message to his partner, exclaimed:

”Mortimer, in heaven's name read that!”

Mr. Dudley took the despatch and read as follows:

”Be at office District Attorney to-morrow ten o'clock. I will take your advice and surrender. Medjora.”

”Well, Robert, what of it?”

”What of it? Has the Western Union an office in the other world now, that dead men may send telegrams?”

”Certainly not. Therefore this was sent before he died.”

”Before he died!” This unthought-of possibility shattered the rising hopes of Mr. Bliss. He made one more effort, however, saying:

”What is the date?”

”Why, the date is to-day!” said Mr. Dudley, slowly. ”Singular! But it is an error, of course.”

”Why do you say 'of course'?” asked his partner, testily. ”You seem to be anxious to lose this case. Now, how do you know that Medjora is dead after all?”

”Why Barnes saw him go into the building, and he could not have escaped, for the place was surrounded by the police.”

”There is no telling what that man can do. I verily believe that he is more than human, after the way in which he read my thoughts yesterday.

I am going to probe this thing to the bottom.” And before his partner could detain him, he had taken down his hat and rushed off.

Two hours later, he returned discouraged. At the main office he had been referred to a branch, far uptown. Arriving there he found that the operator who had sent the despatch had gone off duty. The original blank upon which the message had been written was undated. So he learned practically nothing.

”Never mind,” said he, doggedly, after relating his ill-success, ”I will go to the District-Attorney's office to-morrow, and wait for that man whether he come, or his ghost. I firmly believe that one or the other will do so.”

”I will go with you,” said Mr. Dudley. ”Only promise me to say nothing, unless our man turns up.”

At half-past nine on the next morning, both of the young lawyers were at the appointed place. Mr. Dudley sat down and read, or appeared to read, the paper. Mr. Bliss walked about impatiently, leaving the room occasionally to go out into the hall and stand at the main doorway, looking into the street.

A few moments before ten o'clock the District Attorney himself arrived and nodded pleasantly to the young men, with whom he was acquainted.