? A man you despise, too."

"No. I promised. Besides, you wouldn't be contented with the knowledge;
you'd act on it."

Grimbal showed a lightning-quick perception of this admission; and
Hicks, too late, saw that the other had realised its force. Then he made
an effort to modify his assertion.

"When I say 'you'd act on it,' I mean that you might try to, though I
much doubt really if anything I could tell you would damage Blanchard."

"If you think that, then there can be no conscientious objection to
telling me. Besides, I don't say I should act on the knowledge. I don't
say I shall or I shall not. All you ve got to do is to say whether
you'll take the Red House Farm at a nominal rent from Michaelmas."

"No, man, no. You've met me in a bad moment, too, if you only knew. But
think of it--brother and sister; and I, in order to marry the woman,
betray the man. That's what it comes to. Such things don't happen."

"You re speaking plainly, at any rate. We ought to understand each other
to-day, if ever. I'll make you the same offer for less return. Tell me
where he was during those weeks--that's all. You needn't tell what he
was doing."

"If you knew one, you'd find out the other. Once and for all, I'll tell
you nothing. By an accidental question you discovered that I knew
something. That was not my fault. But more you never will know from
me--farm or no farm."

"You're a fool for your pains. And the end will be the same. The
information must reach me. You're a coward at heart, for it's fear, not
any tomfoolery of morals, that keeps your mouth shut. Don't deceive
yourself. I've often talked with you before to-day, and I know you think
as I do."

"What's that to do with it?"

"Everything. 'Good' and 'evil' are only two words, and what is man's
good and what is man's evil takes something cleverer than man to know.
It's no nonsense of 'right' and 'wrong' that's keeping you from a happy
home and a wife. What is it then?"

Hicks was silent a moment, then made answer.

"I don't know. I don't know any more than you do. Something has come
over me; I can't tell you what. I'm more surprised than you are at my
silence; but there it is. Why the devil I don't speak I don't know. I
only know I'm not going to. Our characters are beyond our own power to
understand."

"If you don't know, I'll tell you. You're frightened that he will find
out. You're afraid of him."

"It's vain trying to anger me into speaking," answered the