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Rh understood perfectly. Hence Barry's unaccountable absences.

But Miss Chichester had him now alone and at her mercy.

"What I wanted to see you about," she explained, "is that I've come to the conclusion that Phil Westgate is just making game of both of us. I've called him up every day and he says his detectives haven't discovered the first thing."

"Give 'em time," suggested Barry. "You know Rome wasn't built in a day."

"They've had plenty of time. He just doesn't want them to discover anything. I'm not going to wait another day. If he doesn't find something to-morrow to confirm what I saw, I'm going to make my story public. I'm going to spread it from one end of the town to the other. I'm going to show that woman up for what she is, and if Ruth Tracy and Mr. Farrar want to patronize her after that, they'll do it at their peril. Of course you won't have anything more to do with her, will you, Barry?"

Barry opened his eyes wide and was silent. Then a happy thought came to him, and he said:

"If any woman lets Steve Lamar hug and kiss her, she mustn't expect to associate with me."

"Of course not; nor with any one else who has any self-respect or any regard for public opinion. But to-morrow's the last day I'm going to keep my mouth shut, and Phil can like it or not as he chooses. I never did think he was as much of a lawyer as some people claim he is, anyway."

"Why," replied Barry, "the only thing I've got against Phil is that he's leading this fight on the rector. Otherwise he's a very decent fellow, with fair, average ability."

"Are you here to see the bishop, Barry?"

"I thought I'd drop in and have a chat with him. The bishop and I are old friends."