"The wives of men like you--men much before the world, men in the
thick of strife, social and political--often receive letters of a
very threatening character."

"She would have shown me any such, if only to put me on my guard.
She is physically a very brave woman and not at all nervous."

"Those letters sometimes assume the shape of calumny. Your
character may have been attacked."

"She believes in my character and would have given me an
opportunity to vindicate myself. I have every confidence in my
wife's sense of justice."

I experienced a thrill of admiration for the appreciation he
evinced in those words. Yet I pursued the subject resolutely.

"Have you an enemy, Mayor Packard? Any real and downright enemy
capable of a deep and serious attempt at destroying your
happiness?"

"None that I know of, Miss Saunders. I have political enemies,
of course men, who, influenced by party feeling, are not above
attacking methods and possibly my official reputation; but
personal ones--wretches willing to stab me in my home-life and
affections, that I can not believe. My life has been as an open
book. I have harmed no man knowingly and, as far as I know, no
man has ever cherished a wish to injure me."

"Who constitute your household? How many servants do you keep