“That is only too true, Mr. Carter. Even now I find myself trying to make excuses for him. In the old days, when he made me assist him in his burglaries, and finally when I actually stole things under his direction, there was no resisting him.” “I know.” “But what——” “Nan, Lenore Remsen will have a dowry of more than a million. This house, with the estate upon which it stands, will go to her. He regards that as a prize worth winning, no matter what the effort. He stole the jewels merely to provide himself with ready cash when the time comes for him to leave here to prepare for the wedding. The wedding itself is the great goal.” “I am aware of that.” “Therefore, when he decided that you had gone to New York to warn me, and possibly to bring me back with you, he realized that he must make his position unassailably strong, or else abandon it altogether.” “But, how——” “Now, if the worst should come to the worst, he could tell what you used to be—and he knows that you could not and would not deny that. He also knows that you and I, both, will do anything in our power to prevent the necessity of such a revelation.” “Yes,” she said. “So it remains—at least it is apparent to me—that he has found a place inside of your rooms to conceal those stolen jewels; a place where he could find them by accident, or where some other person would find them seemingly by accident, in case a search should be made for them. Where would you be then, Nan?” She smiled wistfully; and then, with an attempt at playfulness, replied: “I’d be in a bad fix, wouldn’t I?” “You certainly would.” “But, Mr. Carter, he must know that he cannot carry off that marriage, with you and I both at hand to prevent it. He must know that we would not permit it to take place, no matter what the consequences might be.” “One would think so; but—well, perhaps he intends, somehow, to forestall us.” “Forestall us? How could he do that?” “Oh, I don’t know; only, perhaps, if the marriage had actually taken place, and there was no help for it, you and I might both think that it would be the better way to leave things alone. While we might, and would, prevent such a thing, if we had the time and the opportunity, we might both of us feel disinclined to interfere after it had actually happened.” “I understand what you mean.” “Well, just what do you think I mean?” “That he was only playing you to gain time, and that he will, if he can do it, induce Lenore to run away with him, and be married. Only there wouldn’t be any earthly reason for such a thing as that, when he is already the accepted suitor. No; it isn’t that. It is something else, and I think I can guess what it is.” “What, then?” “Remember, I have been his wife. I have lived with him and I know him, even better than you do.” “Yes.” “A little while ago, you called him a brave man. Well, if physical courage is bravery, then he can certainly lay claim to that quality. James Duryea is not afraid of anything.” “I know it.”