"Pray do not hasten," Mrs. Montague smilingly remarked.

She happened to have no engagement for the evening, and, being alone, was
glad of even the companionship of a prosy attorney.

"Thank you," Mr. Corbin politely returned; "but I have other matters on
hand which ought to be attended to."

"Surely you do not work evenings as well as during the day?" Mrs.
Montague observed, with some surprise.

"Not always; but just now I seem to have some very knotty cases on
hand--one, in particular, seems to baffle all my skill with its mystery.
Indeed, it bids fair to develop quite a romance."

"Indeed! you pique my curiosity, and we women are dear lovers of romance
in real life, you know," said the charming widow, with an arch smile.
"Would it be betraying confidence to tell me a little about it?" she
added, persuasively.

"Oh no; the matter is no secret, that I know of, and really you are so
cozy here," with an appreciative glance about the attractive room as he
resumed his seat, "I am tempted to stay and chat a while. I recently
received a communication from an English lawyer who desired to turn a
case over to me, as it related to American parties, and he had no time to
come here to look them up. A man who was on his way home from Australia,
was taken ill in London and died there; but before his death he made his
will, leaving all his property to a niece, although he did not know
whether she was living or not. All the information he could give
regarding her was her name, with the date and place of her birth. In case