ged armchair that had
sheltered {100} Lucretia and Mary previously. A fancy seized me that
the cumbersome, comfortable piece of mahogany and old brocade might
indeed be a veritable witness-seat, a Chair of Truth, that in some
fashion impelled its occupant to speak out from the heart the thing he
really thought. An apprehensive glance at Arnold's grave, clear-cut,
sallow face reassured me. It held no threat of hysteric protest.
Whatever he might say, I need not fear that he would break the inmost
silence of a deeply humiliated man.

"It is a matter of business that I want to see you about, Mr. Raynie,"
he said easily. "There is no one but you who can manage it for me."

I expressed my desire to serve him.

"You see, it is just this: if Desire insists upon divorcing me the
enterprise must be properly financed. I {101} prefer to pay her
expenses myself. I am not going to have her hard up or--depending
upon any one else."

"Desire would never take money from any one but Mrs. Greening or me,
Ackroyd."

"No--I suppose not. Still, you never can tell how these confounded
modern women are going to invert things in their minds. She'd not do
it unless she could make it look high-minded and self-sacrificing, of
course. But I would rather she ran no risk of doing it. And, if you
don't mind my saying so, I would also prefer at present that even you
and Mrs. Greening kept your hands out of your pockets. You see, Desire
is my wife until she ceases to be so. It is unquestionably my right to
provide for her, even in Reno, if I choose. Of course, she would say
that, having left my bed and {102} board, she had renounced her claim
upon my bank account--that is, she would say it if she thought about
the matter at all. But she is so heedless she will probably not
question the source of supplies, certainly not if they come through
you. Will you do me this favor, Mr. Raynie?"

There was nothing for me to do but assent, but I did so a little
irritably. It seemed to me at the moment that it would be excellent
discipline to let the winds of heaven beat harshly upon Desire's
delicately guarded head, for a short time at least. I intimated as
much.

Arnold Ackroyd shook his head.

"It is too late for that kind of discipline to be effective," he said.
"I have meant that Desire should have everything that a man can give,
but there is one point I will never yield. She shall not have my
children!"

{103}

He took out his checkbook and his