g
you'd do or say? See here! Good God! Are you mad enough to look at her?
That's funny! That's a scream!"

There was, however, no conviction behind the pretended amazement and
contempt; and George suspected that Dalrymple had all along sounded his
chief ambition; had, in fact, made his secretive announcement just now,
because, his judgment drugged, he had desired to call a rival's
attention to his triumphant posture on the steps of attainment.

"I've no intention of discussing causes," George answered, evenly, "but
I do imagine the entire family would be noticeably affected by my
story."

"Which you couldn't tell," Dalrymple cried. "Which you couldn't possibly
tell."

"Which I don't think I shall have to tell," George said with a smile.
"Look at your position, Dalrymple. If you borrow money on the strength
of this approaching marriage you announce its chief purpose quite
distinctly. I fancy Old Planter, ill as he is, would want to take a club
to you. You've always wished, haven't you, to keep your borrowings from
Lambert? You can't do it if you persist in involving the Planters in
your extravagances. And remember you gave me a pretty thorough list of
your debtors--not reading for women, but Lambert would understand, and
make its meaning clear. Then let us go back to that afternoon in my
office, when you tried to say unspeakable things----"

Impulsively Dalrymple bared his teeth.

"Got you there, Morton! I told Lambert it was you who had been
impertinent----"

All at once George felt better and cleaner. He whistled.

"When I let you off then I never dreamed you'd try to back that lie up."

"Will they believe me," the other asked, "or you, who come from God
knows what; God knows where?"

"Fortunately," George said, "Lambert and his sister share that supernal
knowledge. They'll believe me."

He stood up.

"That's all. You know what to expect. Just one thing more."

He spoke softly, without any apparent passion, but he displayed before
the man in the chair his two hands.

"If necessary I'd stop you marrying Sylvia Planter with those."

Dalrymple got to his feet, struggled to assume a cloak of bravado.

"Won't put up with such threats. Actionable----"

"Give me your decision," George said, harshly. "Will you keep away from
her? If there is really an understanding, will you so arrange things
that she can destroy it immediately? Come. Yes or no?"

"Give me that key."

George shrugged his shoulders.