"But I can, Mrs. Montague," Mr. Corbin positively asserted. "Since you
have acknowledged so much, and it is evident that you could reveal more,
you can be compelled, by law, to do so under oath."

"You would not dare to adopt such stringent measures with me, after all
the business that I have thrown into your hands," the woman said,
sharply, but growing white about the mouth.

"My duty is just as obligatory to one client as to another. I am under as
much obligation to carry out the conditions of Homer Forester's will as I
am to be faithful to your interests," the lawyer replied, with inflexible
integrity.

"Then you will no longer be faithful to me--you will transact no
more business for _me_," Mrs. Montague asserted, with angry brow and
compressed lips.

"Very well, if that is your decision I must submit to it," was the
imperturbable response. "And now, madame, I ask you, once for all, to
tell me the name of the man whom Mona Forester married?"

"I will not."

"Then let _me_ tell _you_ what conclusion I have drawn from what I have
learned during this interview," said Mr. Corbin, as he leaned forward and
looked straight into the woman's flashing eyes. "You have said you hated
her because she ruined your life--because she loved the man you loved.
You have refused to tell me the name of that man. You can have but one
reason in thus withholding this information--that motive is fear;
therefore, I infer that Mona Forester was the _first wife of your