The Argosy — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

g6 Mrs. Raven's Temptation. indebted to you for your frankness, and I am sure you must under- stand and respect my reserve,” he continued. ‘* You see your client can easily remain nameless, as long as she chooses. As regards her identity, I am no wiser now than when I first spoke to you.” Philip nodded assent. ‘‘ With my client it is different. The least disclosure might give a clue; which clue, if followed up, might lead to the disastrous and heartbreaking result of pretenders and impostures. If we lawyers always knew our business, Mr. Connell, we might do more work in our offices, and have fewer causes célébres in our courts.” Mr. Creed saw them to the end of the passage. But as he turned to Mr. Dewe’s private room his face was grave and thoughtful. ‘‘T’ve taken your hint, Creed,” said Dewe ; “the advertisement is already off to other county papers. It would never do to give a clue to Hampshire. I wonder we did not see that before !” ‘We are not used to this sort of work,” observed Mr. Creed, rather grimly. ‘‘Who could expect that youngster would be the first to walk into the office, asking questions!” retorted Dewe. ‘‘ What a blessing he was pointed out to me at Ravenstoke, so that I knew him by sight ! I recognised him the moment I opened the door of your room. And a good thing I looked into it when I did !—and had you called out to put you on your guard.” ‘‘T was on my guard before,” growled Mr. Creed, who was not too well pleased with the business on hand. ‘“‘T say, Creed, that youngster evidently smells a rat!” “Well,” assented Mr. Creed, shaking his head, “it is hard to fancy he came here out of mere chance. And yet the barrister has told me a feasible story: and they are going, I believe, to send a girl to see me. But—as for that young Raven, he looked most entirely un- concerned, as if the business had nothing to do with him. Either he does not suspect anything at all, or he is the very best actor on or off any stage.” “Really I did think you two would never come to any under- standing, Philtp!” exclaimed Frank, as they walked away from the interview. ‘‘ Why could not you tell your story straight off? What harm would have been in it? As the man says, he is no nearer know- ing anything about Evelyn Agate now.” ‘One can never tell,” said Philip. ‘ Besides, he is a-solicitor, and { am a barrister, and, unless I can bamboozle him a little, he would mever trust me to bamboozle anybody else—never give me a brief. I'don’t believe I did it half well enough. My conscience is reproach- ing me that I was a great deal too soft. And who asked you to tell him about your birthday ?” ‘Why, it came out naturally,” answered Frank. ‘That could not signify anyway.” | ‘Well, then, don’t burden the world with useless facts, and don’t throw away useful ones,” retorted Philip. ‘And now for home, that Gomichookssco m