brought him here!"

She would have given years of her life to say "Sacrifice all, and let
us go!" He seemed even to invite her to say it, but she strove with
herself. Sacrifice of his career meant sacrifice of the whole man. Not
in _her_ eyes, oh no!--but she had studied him so well, and knew that
he could no longer be content in obscurity. She choked her very soul's
desire.

"Shall I try to buy him off, Lily?"

"Do try, darling!"

"But can you face what will come afterwards--the constant risks?"

"Anything rather than you shall be ruined!"

A syllable would have broken down her heroism. It was on his tongue. He
had but to say "Ruin!--what do I care for ruin in _that_ sense?" and
she would have cried with delight. But he kept it back.

"Sit down and wait for me. I will go and see him."

One more embrace, and he left her. Mrs. Wade was talking with Northway
in the dining-room, talking hurriedly and earnestly. She heard
Quarrier's step and came to the door.

"In here?" Denzil asked.

She nodded and came out. Then the door closed behind him.

Northway stood near the window. He had eaten--luncheon was still on the
table--and had been smoking to calm his nerves, but at the sight of
Quarrier he became agitated They inspected each other. Denzil's impulse
was to annihilate his contemptible enemy with fierceness of look and
word; and in Northway jealousy fought so strongly with prudence that a
word of anger would have driven him to revengeful determination. But a
few moments of silence averted this danger. Quarrier said to himself
that there was no use in half measures. He had promised Lilian to do
his best, and his own desire pointed to the same end. Swallowing his
gall, he spoke quietly.

"Mr. Northway, we can't talk as if we were friends; but I must remember
that you have never intentionally done me any wrong--that it is _I_ who
am immediately to blame for this state of things. I hope you will talk
it over with me"----

His voice failed, but the first step had been taken. He sat down,
motioning the other to a chair.

"I can't allow my wife to live any longer in this way," began the
adversary, with blundering attempt at dignified speech.

"My wife" was like a blow to Denzil; he flushed, started, yet
controlled himself. What Mrs. Wade had told him of Northway's
characteristics came into his mind, and he saw that this address might
be mere bluster.

"It's very natural for you to speak in that way; but there