fact that his guests were
arriving. Von Barwig made no reply.

"Barwig, for God's sake don't ruin me! At least, I've given the child
everything. She knows nothing, and the world respects----"

"The world always respects a successful rascal," interrupted Von Barwig
with a harsh laugh. "Of all people he is the most respected. Why, if
I had not found you, I have no doubt you would live on a church
window-pane after you died! But now I anticipate that everybody shall
know your virtues while you are alive. I cut off that window-pane! I
am going to baptise you, Ahlmann; I give you back your name."

"Anton, Anton! Why not sit down calmly and talk it over?" pleaded
Stanton.

"Ah, you were always a polite man, the kind women like; a man born with
kid gloves and no soul. Now we take off the gloves; we show you as you
are," and Von Barwig shook his finger at the man opposite him.

There were echoes of laughter out in the hallway; Stanton heard them
and trembled. He recognised the voices of Mrs. Cruger's nieces. If
these gossips, ever found out the truth, he thought, not a family in
New York but would be acquainted with the facts in twenty-four hours.

"Anton, be calm," he pleaded. "Give me a few days to think it over."

"No!" declared Von Barwig.

"A few hours," pleaded Stanton.

"No!" repeated Von Barwig; "not even a few minutes."

Stanton moved toward the door.

"Stay here!" commanded Von Barwig. He was plainly master of the
situation now, for Stanton instinctively obeyed him. "If I let you go
into the next room it might be sixteen years before you got back again!
Sit down."

Stanton obeyed him and there was a slight pause.

"You know what a scandal this will make," he pleaded.

"I know," replied Von Barwig in a quiet tone. "I know!"

"The whole country will ring with it," said Stanton.

"You shouldn't have prayed so loud, Ahlmann," replied Von Barwig with a
sardonic smile. "You laid too many cornerstones; your charities are
too well known. You should have kept them a secret and not blazoned
your generosity to the whole world. When you fed an orphan or a widow
you shouldn't have advertised it in the newspapers."

Stanton looked at him and saw no hope.

"You're going to ruin me?" he asked.

Von Barwig made no reply.

"You're going to tell her?" demanded Stanton.

"Yes," replied Von Barwig in a quiet tone; "I'm going to tell her."

"You'd better think first."

"I have thought."

"