"The business I came upon," said Mr. Poynter, irritated by Aaron's composure. "I am ready to hear it, sir." "Very well. We will not beat about the bush, but will come straight to the point. You are down in the world, Mr. Cohen?" "Yes, sir; I am, as you say, down in the world." "The newspapers," continued Mr. Poynter, "have been saying uncomplimentary things of you, and I have heard a threat of further revelations. I considered it my duty--in the interests of truth, Mr. Cohen--to make your wife acquainted with these public disclosures." Rachel pressed her lips again upon Aaron's hand, which she held in a firm and loving grasp. His face brightened. "You have rendered me a service," he said. "Possibly I have you to thank, also, for the statements which have been made in the papers concerning me." "Possibly," said Mr. Poynter. "Nay," said Aaron, "you suggested just now the advisability of not beating about the bush, and you proclaim that you are here in the interests of truth. Have I, or have I not, to thank you for this unfavourable publicity?" "I have never shrunk from the truth," replied Mr. Poynter, with a lofty air, "nor from a duty, however distressing the truth or the duty might be. Society has to be considered, and we must ignore the feeling of the individual. I became possessed of certain information, and I considered it my imperative duty not to withhold it from the public ear." "I thank you. Without further circumlocution I must ask you to come straight to the business which brings you here." "It is very simple, and will put money in your pocket, of which, it seems to me, you stand in need." "I do stand in need of money." "Then the matter can be arranged. Some little while since we had a conversation concerning certain contracts which you were not in a position to complete." "You solicited a transference of those contracts to your firm," said Aaron, "and I declined to grant your request." "You use high-sounding words for one in your position," said Mr. Poynter, with a frown, "but I will not quarrel with you. You gave the worst of all bad reasons for your refusal." "Whether my reasons were good or bad, you have taken your revenge." "God-fearing men do not seek revenge, but justice. To continue. The firm to which you transferred the most important of these contracts happens at the present time to need some assistance, and hearing of it, I offer what it needs. But it appears that you have hampered them, and that in the deed of transference you expressly stipulate that no part of the contracts shall be executed by me unless I bind myself to a scale of wages and hours which you have tabulated." "I considered it fair to the men," said Aaron, "and it is as you have stated."