scoundrel is around trying to sniff out some shadow of a pretext for
misusing her worse than he's already done. Yes, sir; he'd be actually
tickled to death if he could nose up some hint of a scandal about
her--something that he could pretend to believe, and work for his own
advantage to levy blackmail, or get rid of her, or whatever suited his
book. I didn't think there was such an out-and-out cur on this whole
footstool. I almost wish, by God, I'd thrown him into the canal!"

"Yes, you lawyers must run against some pretty snide specimens,"
remarked the photographer, lifting one of the cases from its sockets.



CHAPTER XXVI


Theron spent half an hour in aimless strolling about the streets. From
earliest boyhood his mind had always worked most clearly when he walked
alone. Every mental process which had left a mark upon his memory and
his career--the daydreams of future academic greatness and fame which
had fashioned themselves in his brain as a farm lad; the meditations,
raptures, and high resolves of his student period at the seminary; the
more notable sermons and powerful discourse by which he had revealed the
genius that was in him to astonished and delighted assemblages--all were
associated in his retrospective thoughts with solitary rambles.

He had a very direct and vivid consciousness now that it was good to be
on his legs, and alone. He had never in his life been more sensible of
the charm of his own companionship. The encounter with Gorringe seemed
to have cleared all the clouds out of his brain, and restored lightness