sired to discover his exact
intentions before denouncing him.

"Why should I press him?"

Had it been before the dinner Leslie might have acted more discreetly.
As it was, he looked at the speaker somewhat blankly. "Why? Because I
want you to. Now don't ask troublesome questions or put on your
tragedy air, Millicent, but just promise to keep him here until after
the east-bound train starts, anyway. I'm not asking for caprice--I--I
particularly want a man to see him who will not be in the city until
the following day."

Then, remembering what she had heard outside the steamer's deck house,
a light suddenly broke in upon the woman. The man whose keen eyes
would interfere with Shackleby's plans must be Thurston, and it was
evident there was a scheme on hand to wreck his work in his absence.
Once she had half-willingly assisted her husband to Thurston's
detriment; but much had changed since then, and remembering that she
had already, without knowing it, played into the confederate's hands by
writing to him, her indignation mastered her.

"I could not persuade him against his wishes, and would not do so if I
could," she declared, turning full upon her husband.

"You can and must," replied Leslie, whose passion blazed up. "I'm
about sick of your obstinacy and fondness for dramatic situations. You
could do anything with any man you laid yourself out to inveigle, as I
know to my cost, and in this case--by the Lord, I'll make you!"

"I will not!" Millicent's face was white with anger as she fixed her
eyes on him. "For a few moments you shall listen to me. What you and
Shackleby are planning does not concern me; but I will not move a
finger to help you. Once before you said--what you have done--and if I
have never forgotten it I tried to do so. This time I shall do
neither. I have borne very much from you already, but, sunk almost to
your level as I am, there are things I cannot stoop to countenance.
For instance, the draft I am to cajole from Thurston is not intended
for a speculation in mining shares, but--for Coralie."

The little carved bracket came down from the wall with a crash, and
Leslie, whose face was swollen with fury, gripped the speaker's arm
savagely. "After to-morrow you can do just what pleases you and go
where you will," he responded in a voice shaking with rage and fear.
"But in this I will make you obey me. As to Coralie, somebody has
slandered me. The money is for what I told you, and