The blows echoed loudly through the silent house,
and an instant later Fentress' tall, spare figure was seen
advancing from the far end of the hall.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Judge Price--Colonel Fentress'' said the judge.
"Judge Price," uncertainly, and still advancing.
"I had flattered myself that you must have heard of me," said the
judge.
"I think I have," said Fentress, pausing now.
"He thinks he has!" muttered the judge under his breath.
"Will you come in?" it was more a question than an invitation.
"If you are at liberty." The colonel bowed. "Allow me," the
judge continued. "Colonel Fentress--Mr. Mahaffy, Mr. Yancy and
Mr. Cavendish." Again the colonel bowed.
"Will you step into the library?"
"Very good," and the judge followed the colonel briskly down the
hall.
When they entered the library Fentress turned and took stock of
his guests. Mahaffy he had seen before; Yancy and Cavendish were
of course strangers to him, but their appearance explained them;
last of all his glance shifted to the judge. He had heard
something of those activities by means of which Slocum Price had
striven to distinguish himself, and he had a certain curiosity
respecting the man. It was immediately satisfied. The judge had
reached a degree of shabbiness seldom equaled, and but for his
mellow, effulgent personality might well have passed for a common
vagabond; and if his dress advertised the state of his finances,
his face explained his habits.
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