n in the case as will lead to fixing the
crime on you alone, while I will come in as the principal witness. This
will make your conviction certain."

"Devil!" exclaimed Mrs. Dinneford, her white face convulsed and her eyes
starting from their sockets with rage and fear. "Devil!" she repeated,
not able to control her passion.

"Then you know me," was answered, with cool self-possession, "and what
you have to expect."

Neither spoke for a considerable time. Up to this period they had been
alone in the parlor. Guests of the house now came in and took seats
near them. They arose and walked the floor for a little while, still in
silence, then passed into an adjoining parlor that happened to be empty,
and resumed the conference.

"This is a last resort," remarked Freeling, softening his voice as they
sat down--"a card that I do not wish to play, and shall not if I can
help it. But it is best that you should know that it is in my hand. If
there is any better way of escape, I shall take it."

"You spoke of going away," said Mrs. Dinneford.

"Yes. But that involves a great deal."

"What?"

"The breaking up of my business, and loss of money and opportunities
that I can hardly hope ever to regain."

"Why loss of money?"

"I shall have to wind up hurriedly, and it will be impossible to collect
more than a small part of my outstanding claims. I shall have to go
away under a cloud, and it will not be prudent to return. Most of these
claims will therefore become losses. The amount of capital I shall be
able to take will not be sufficient to do more than provide for a small
beginning in some distant place and under an assumed name. On the other
hand, if I remain and fight the thing through, as I have no doubt I can,
I shall keep my business and my place in society here--hurt, it may be,
in my good name, but still with the main chance all right. But it will
be hard for you. If I pass the ordeal safely, you will not. And the
question to consider is whether you can make it to my interest to go
away, to drop out of sight, injured in fortune and good name, while you
go unscathed. You now have it all in a nutshell. I will not press you to
a decision to-day. Your mind is too much disturbed. To-morrow, at noon,
I would like to see you again."

Freeling made a motion to rise, but Mrs. Dinneford did not stir.

"Perhaps," he said, "you decide at once to let things take their course.
Understand me, I am ready for either alternative.