Miss Sarah provided for the judge, and the judge never used.[32] “Eaton is interested in some speculating schemes, isn’t he?” he asked, without referring to Diana.

[32]

The judge nodded. “He’s president of a company developing some lands in Oklahoma, and he’s connected in Wall Street; Jacob’s a smart fellow.”

“Colonel Royall is interested, too, I suppose,” Trench suggested tentatively.

“Yep, got pretty much all his spare cash in, I reckon; the colonel loves to speculate. It’s in the blood, one way or another. His grandfather kept the finest race-horses in the South, and his father lost a small fortune on them. Of course David has to dip in, but he’s never been much for horses. Besides, he had a blow; his wife—” The judge stopped abruptly and looked up.

The door of the study had been opening softly and closing again for the last few minutes. As he paused it opened wider, and a woolly head came in cautiously.

“What is it, Juniper?” he asked impatiently. “Don’t keep a two-inch draught on my back; come in or stay out.”

The old negro opened the door wide enough to squeeze his lean body through and closed it behind him.

“Evenin’, Jedge,” he said; “evenin’, Marse Trench.”

“What do you want now?” demanded the judge, taking off his spectacles to polish them. There was the ghost of a smile about his grim lips.

Juniper turned his hat around slowly and looked[33] into the crown; it was a battered old gray felt and he saw the pattern of the carpet through a hole in it. “I’ve laid off ter ask yo’ how much it wud cost ter git er divorce, suh?”

[33]

Judge Hollis put on his spectacles and looked at him thoughtfully. “Depends on the circumstances, Juniper,” he replied. “I suppose Aunt Charity is tired of you at last?”

“No, suh, she ain’t, but I ez,” said Juniper indignantly; “she done b’haved so onerary dat I’se sho gwine ter be divorced, I ez, ef it don’ cost too much,” he added dolefully.

The judge’s eyes twinkled. “You’ll have to pay her alimony,” he said.

“What’s dat?” Juniper demanded with anxiety.

“So much a week out of your wages,” explained 

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