"And what is more," continued Peter, "while they were right in saying
that I paid some of the expenses of the case, yet I was more than repaid
by my fees in some civil suits I brought for the relatives of the
children, which we settled very advantageously."

"Won't you sit down, Mr. Stirling?" said Miss De Voe. "I should like to
hear about the cases."

Peter began a very simple narrative of the matter. But Miss De Voe
interjected questions or suppositions here and there, which led to other
explanations, and before Peter had finished, he had told not merely the
history of the cases, but much else. His mention of the two Dooley
children had brought out the fact of their visit to his mother, and this
had explained incidentally her position in the world. The settlement of
the cases involved the story of the visit to the brewer's home, and
Peter, to justify his action, added his interview with his pastor,
Peter's connection with the case compelled him to speak of his evenings
in the "angle," and the solitary life that had sent him there.
Afterwards, Peter was rather surprised at how much he had told. He did
not realize that a woman with tact and experience can, without making it
evident, lead a man to tell nearly anything and everything he knows, if
she is so minded. If women ever really take to the bar seriously, may
Providence protect the average being in trousers, when on the witness
stand.

As Peter talked, a clock struck. Stopping short, he rose. "I must ask
your pardon," he said. "I had no idea I had taken so much of your time."
Then putting his hand in his pocket, he produced the check. "You see
that I have made a very good thing out of the whole matter and do not