Mrs. Fenton laid her hand on Mr. Harding"s arm and almost shook it as she asked,
"What does he mean? What--does--he--mean?"
How the necks stretched and the ears strained to catch the counsel"s answer!
But he whispered to the woman at his side, who, with her arms thrown about the children, seemed oblivious of the eyes glutting themselves upon her.
"Impossible!" she kept repeating, "it is impossible!"
The old lawyer shook his head gravely and glanced uneasily at the defendant. Again he whispered to the young wife, speaking rapidly and stopping her interruptions with the pressure of his hand upon her arm, till at length she burst out in a frightened undertone,
"But I tell you it is impossible! It _shall_ not be done!"
Sargent rose and crossed to where the two were talking.
"Pardon me for interrupting," he said to Mr. Harding, "but I apprehend this decision is a surprise to Mrs. Fenton. Can we not arrange that the matter shall go no further?"
"Gladly, Sargent, but how?"
"I am authorised by my client to withdraw this motion if Mrs. Fenton will discontinue her case."
Mr. Harding looked at the fair face turned toward him.
"You understand," he said. "This is Mr. Sargent,--your husband"s attorney."
With a gesture, half terror and half disdain, the young mother drew the children closer to her side and Sargent felt the hot blood flying to his cheeks. But she seemed only conscious of Mr. Harding"s presence as she answered him.
"Does he dare offer to bribe me with my own children? It is monstrous!"
Mr. Harding glanced sadly at the younger lawyer as the latter turned again to his impatient client.
"She won"t consent?" muttered Fenton. "Nonsense! You"ve worked the smooth business right enough, Sargent, but we"ve won the motion and done the decent. Now knock things about. You"ve got to scare her half out of her wits----"
Sargent"s face flushed.
"I think you are mistaking her," he said. "I know you are mistaking me."
"Good Lord--man, don"t get mussy just when everything"s in our own hands. We"ve got to push it through now or never. Why--d.a.m.n it," he whispered fiercely, "don"t you understand we can"t defend this case?
We"ve got to bluff her out!"
The word "we" stung Sargent as though someone had slapped his face. Yet he was a.s.sociated with this man. a.s.sociated for what purpose--to do what? His client"s angry outburst had made it plain enough.
Fenton saw the glance of scorn in his lawyer"s eyes.
"I"ll be my own attorney then--and a d.a.m.n sight better one," he muttered and turned toward the group at the other end of the table.
"Well, now, let"s have the children--Come, kids."
He rose and took a step forward. As he did so his wife sprang to her feet and faced him. He stopped with an uneasy laugh before the splendid figure of the woman drawn up to her full height, and met her measured look of courage and contempt. Then he turned again toward his counsel, speaking in an ugly undertone.
"See here, Sargent, I"m not going to make a fool of myself before all these people. Get the officers to bring the children out to the carriage."
But Sargent did not reply, and for a moment there was dead silence in the Court Room.
Fenton stooped toward his counsel.
"What do you think you"re paid for?" he whispered menacingly.
What was he paid for? That was plain talk--that made the truth stand out clearly! He was the hireling of this man--not his a.s.sociate. He was hired to do contemptible work and he had done it,--was doing it. No wonder his employer stood ready with insult to show how he despised his creature. It was perfectly safe. An officer of the Court was bound by professional duty and gagged by confidential communications. He must sit still and see this outrage on Justice perpetrated. Even aid in it. And for what? For money. How far had he sold himself--how much of his manhood was included in the purchase? He could retire from the case?
Yes, after the day"s dirty work was finished and the wrong could not be righted.
If he raised his hand to stop this thing, how many lawyers in the City would uphold him? Not many in the t.i.tan Building. It was easy to foreshadow the construction which would be placed upon his conduct. He could almost hear the fierce denunciation. To defend himself he would have to violate professional secrecy still further. True, there were those who would understand--men to whom their calling was and always would be "the honourable profession of the law"--men who would never permit the Law"s mantle of dignity to become a cloak for the vicious.
But the others--"the high average"? Had he the courage to face their verdict?
Perspiration poured down Sargent"s face and his hand shook with suppressed wrath as Fenton rose and again addressed the Court.
"I presume your Honour will enforce your order? I don"t wish to make a scene."
The Justice looked inquiringly at the lawyers, but neither of them made any sign.
"Madam," he said at last, "I have awarded your husband the custody of his children pending this action. You will kindly put no obstacle in the way of the execution of my order."
The chairs of the leerers grated on the floor with eagerness, and the skirts of the shameless shivered with delicious tremors.
Ah--this was worth coming for! A woman"s tenderest feelings were to be exposed and crushed. Privacy was to be invaded--delicacy was to be unveiled--the sacred was to be handled. Ah--this well repaid the waiting!
Mrs. Fenton flushed as the Judge addressed her, and then grew ashy pale as she answered.
"You have no right, no man has any right, to dispose of my children.
They shall not leave me! I will not permit it!"
The Judge glanced at the bulging eyes and gaping mouths of the audience and frowned angrily.
"Officer," he said sharply, "take those children and deliver them to the defendant."
There are moments when the Bar does not envy the Bench.
As the Judge"s words reached her, the young mother leaped to her feet and swept the children behind her. Then she backed toward the wall and crouched there like some magnificent wild thing, trembling with that mingling of terror and courage which warns the fiercest beast to caution.
"Let him," she panted, hoa.r.s.ely, "let him come--come and take them if--if he dare!"
Mr. Harding rose and stepped toward the woman, laying his hand gently upon her arm. She gazed at him for an instant with no recognition in her eyes, then flung her arms about his neck and laughed the hideous shuddering laughter of hysteria.
Here was entertainment indeed! A red-letter day in the annals of the audience! To-morrow the Court Room would be packed with expectants--all the floating population of the Rotunda would be on hand.
The Judge seemed to think of this.
"Remove that woman!" he ordered.