Mostyn turned in his revolving chair. He tried to meet the cold stare of his partner steadily. "Jarvis, I am in the deepest trouble that I ever faced."
"So it is true!" burst from Saunders's lips. "My God, it is true!"
"But don't misunderstand me." Mostyn laid an eager hand on the knee close to his own. "My reputation is so bad in your eyes that I must assure you that--that she is as pure as--"
"Stop!" Saunders shook the hand from his knee as if it were a coiled reptile. "You insult her even by mentioning such a thing. The man does not live who could tarnish her name. I have watched her since she was a little child. I know her as well as if she were my sister, and I respect her as much."
Mostyn was fiery red. "I will justify myself as far as possible," he blurted out, desperately. "You may not believe it, but as God is my Judge, I intended, when I left her, to rid myself of Marie Winship and go back and ask her to be my wife."
"I can well believe it, even of you"--Saunders breathed hard--"and I know what happened. You were not proof against other influences."
"That is it," Mostyn fairly groaned. "I am as weak as water. I have wronged that noble girl, but it really was not intentional. Knowing her has been the one solely uplifting influence of my life. While I was there I was sure I could be--be worthy of her, but now I know that I am not."
"No, you are not!" Saunders cried. "You are not. The man does not live who is worthy of her. And you--you, with your past and that foul stench upon you, actually thought of mating with the purest--ugh! My God!"
Mostyn blinked; there was no trace of resentment in his manner, only cringing humiliation.
"What am I to do?" he faltered, helplessly.
"Do? Nothing! There is nothing you can do now. She will read the papers and know what to expect. It was not you she was in love with, anyway, Mostyn, but an ideal of her own in regard to you. I don't know her well enough to know how she will take it. She has had troubles all her life; this may crown them all; it may drag her down--break her fine spirit--kill her. Who knows? You've made a great many successful deals, Mostyn, but this one recently closed for money, as a main consideration, was deliberately advised by the fiends of hell. You have sold your birthright, and if you succeed in your investment it will be because there is no God in the universe. Mark my prediction, the marriage you are making cannot possibly result in happiness--it cannot, because you'll never be able to wipe this other thing from your soul."