name dragged into all the papers of the country. The
case against Durand will have to be dropped. He's lost his power
anyhow and he'll never get it back."

"Then it doesn't matter much whether he's tried or not."

That phase of the subject Whitford did not pursue. He began to feel in
his vest pocket for something.

"Of course you understand that we're through with you, Bromfield.
Neither Beatrice nor I care to have anything more to do with you."

"I don't see why," protested Bromfield. "As a man of the world--"

"If you don't see the reason I'm not able to explain it to you."
Whitford's fingers found what they were looking for. He fished a ring
from his pocket and put it on the desk. "Beatrice asked me to give you
this."

"I don't think that's fair. If she wants to throw me over she ought to
tell me her reasons herself."

"She's telling them through me. I don't want to be more explicit
unless you force me."

"Of course I'm not good enough. I know that. No man's good enough for
a good woman. But I'm as good as other fellows. We don't claim to be
angels. New York doesn't sprout wings."

"I'm not going to argue this with you. And I'm not going to tell you
what I think of you beyond saying that we're through with you. The
less said about it the better. Man, don't you see I don't want to have
any more talk about it? The engagement was a mistake in the first
place. Bee never loved you. Even if you'd been what we thought you,
it wouldn't have done. She's lucky to have found out in time."

"Is this a business rupture, too, Mr. Whitford?"

"Just as you say about that, Bromfield. As an investor in the Bird
Cage you're entitled to the same consideration that any other
stockholder is. Since you're the second largest owner you've a right
to recognition on the board of directors. I'm not mixing my private
affairs with business."

"Good of you, Mr. Whitford." The younger man spoke with a hint of
gentle sarcasm. He flicked a speck of dirt from his coat-sleeve and
returned to the order of the day. "I understand then that you'll drop
the case against Durand on condition that he'll surrender anything he
may have against me and agree to keep quiet."

"Yes. I think I can speak for Lindsay. So far most of the evidence is
in our hands. It is not yet enough to convict him. We can probably
arrange it with the district attorney to have the thing dropped. You
can make your own terms with Durand. I'