"Is that any of your damned business?"
"She's only a child--"
"You rat! That's what's coming to you!"
"If you say so. But what is coming to her, Drene?"
"Continue to guess. But I know you. It's yourself you're sorry for
and what you'll have to endure--live through. That's what you can't
stand, and remain the sleek, self-satisfied rat you are. No, it will
make earth a living hell for you; never a second, day or night, will
you be able to forget--if you really do love her. . . . And I
believe you do--I don't understand how a thing like you can
love--but it seems it can."
After a silence Graylock said: "You don't care if you damn
yourself?"
"It's worth it to me."
"Are you willing that I should know you are as great a blackguard as
I am?" Drene's gaunt features reddened and he set his jaws in
silence.
"Don't you care what you do to her?" asked Graylock, unsteadily.
"It's a viler business than that for which you are punishing me."
For a long time Drene sat there looking down at the weapon on his
knees. And after a while, the other man spoke huskily: "It's bad
enough either way for me, Drene. I'll do what you wish in the
matter. I'll leave the country; I'll stay; whichever you say. Or,"
he said with a ghastly smile, "I'll clean out that automatic for you
to-night--if you'll marry her."
Drene looked up, slowly: "What did you say?"
"I said that I'd clean out your automatic for you--to-night--if you
wish. . . . It can be an accident or not, just as you say."
"Where?"
"In my own rooms--if it is to be an accident."
"Do you offer--"
"Yes; if you'll marry her afterwards. If you say you will I'll take
your word."
"And then you'll be out of your misery, you damned coward!"
"God knows. . . . But I think not," said Graylock, under his
breath.
Drene twisted the automatic, rose and continued to twirl it,
considering. Presently he began to pace the floor, no longer
noticing the other man. Once his promenade brought him up facing the
wall where a calendar hung.
He stood for a while looking at it absently. After a few moments he
stepped nearer, detached the sheet for the present month, then one
by one tore off the remaining sheets until he came to the month
marked December, Graylock watching him all the while.