afety close at hand? Was
it possible that he could ever escape the everlasting stigma of
cowardice--ay, and before him in great red letters he saw written in
the air that fatal clause in the agreement, to which she and all others
would point with bitter scorn, indubitable, overwhelming evidence
against him. He gasped for breath and walked restlessly up and down the
room. Other thoughts came crowding in upon him. He was conscious of a
new element in himself. The last few years had left their mark upon him.
With the handling of great sums of money and the acquisition of wealth
had grown something of the financier's fever. He had become a power,
solidly and steadfastly he had hewn his way into a little circle whose
fascination had begun to tell in his blood. Was he to fall without a
struggle from amongst the high places, to be stripped of his wealth,
shunned as a man who was morally, if not in fact, a murderer, to be
looked upon with never-ending scorn by the woman whose picture for years
had been a religion to him, and whose appearance only a few hours ago
had been the most inspiring thing which had entered into his life?
He looked across the lawn into the pine grove with steadfast eyes and
knitted brows, and Da Souza watched him, ghastly and nervous. At least
he must have time to decide!

"If you send for him," Da Souza said slowly, "you will be absolutely
ruined. It will be a triumph for those whom you have made jealous,
who have measured their wits with yours and gone under. Oh! but the
newspapers will enjoy it--that is very certain. Our latest millionaire,
his rise and fall! Cannot you see it in the placards? And for what? To
give wealth to an old man long past the enjoyment of it-ay, imbecile
already! You will not be a madman, Trent?"

Trent winced perceptibly. Da Souza saw it and rejoiced. There was
another awkward silence. Trent lit a cigar and puffed furiously at it.

"I will think it over, at least," he said in a low tone. "Bring back
your wife and daughter, and leave me alone for a while."

"I knew," Da Souza murmured, "that my friend would be reasonable."

"And the young ladies?"

"Send them to--"

"I will send them back to where they came from," Da Souza interrupted
blandly.

CHAPTER XIII

It is probable that Mrs. Da Souza, excellent wife and mother though she
had proved herself to be, had never admired her husband more than when,
followed by the malevolent glances of Miss Montressor and her f