l the same. The diamond would naturally have no voice in
the matter of its ownership. But the woman in the case might reasonably
be expected to have the power of choice."

"But that's just what I'm anxious to avoid." So much in earnest was the
speaker that he did not realize the fatuity of his words till they were
out of his mouth. Then he uttered an impatient exclamation.

"Oh, hang it all, don't let's stand here arguing. You see the point,
that's enough. I honestly feel that since it was through you that I lost
Hilda Ryder"--even though he was prepared to woo another woman his voice
softened over the name--"it will be doubly hard if you are to come
between me and the only other girl I've ever put in Miss Ryder's place."

"I see the point, as I said before," returned Anstice deliberately. "But
what I don't see is the justice of it. You've admitted I was not to
blame in doing what I did that day; yet in the same breath in which you
acquit me of the crime you expect me to pay the penalty!"

For a second this logical argument took Cheniston aback. Then, for his
heart was set on winning Iris Wayne, he condescended to plead.

"Yes. I admit all that--and I can see I haven't a leg to stand on.
But--morally--or in a spiritual sense so to speak, don't you think
yourself that I have just the shadow of a right to ask you to stand
aside?"

"Yes." His assent was unflinching, though his lips were white. "You have
that right, and that's why I'm listening to you to-night. But--don't you
think we are both taking a wrong view of the matter? What faintest
grounds have we for supposing Miss Wayne will listen to either of us?"

"Oh, that's not an insurmountable obstacle." Cheniston saw the victory
was won, and in an instant he was awake to the expediency of clinching
the matter finally. "We don't know, of course, that she will listen
either to me or to you. But for my part I am ready to take my chance.
And"--at the last moment the inherent honesty of the man came to the
surface through all the unscrupulous bargain he was driving--"my chance
is a hundred times better if you withdraw from the contest."

"I see." With an effort Anstice crushed down the tide of revolt which
swept over his heart. "As you say, I owe you something for that evil
turn I did you, unwittingly, in India. And if you fix this as the price
of my debt I suppose, as an honourable man, there is nothing for me to
do but to pay that price."

Bruce Cheniston looked aw