"For the rest, you took Nelson's word, eh? Very well, I've beaten him out from cover sooner than I expected. Now as to my failures. Failure proves only this: that one's determination to succeed is not strong enough. Who fail, except those who try? You have not always succeeded; neither have I invariably failed. Your report is a bit unfair." "You will fail now. And you deserve to fail." "Indeed? Why?" "Because you're doing an outrageous thing; because--See here, Gray, I know why you hate Nelson." There ensued a moment of silence. "He told you that?" The younger man's face had slowly whitened; he spoke with difficulty. "He told me everything. He told me that you were dishonorably discharged from the army--cashiered, we used to call it--and that you blame him. I don't mind saying it was a shock--worst I've had in years. In time of war, too! The army doesn't do that unless--without ample--Well, Gray, it's damned nasty!" "Quite the nastiest thing that can happen to a man," the other agreed in a thin, flat voice. "I couldn't, wouldn't believe it." "Why not? You believed everything else he told you." "I wouldn't accept his word on a thing like _that_ without asking you." Another pause followed. "There's probably some explanation. I told him so--" Mr. Roswell showed his genuine distress by the frown upon his brow and by his averted eyes. He stirred uncomfortably, then he broke out, irritably: "Well, well? Why in hell don't you say something?" "There is nothing to say." "What? My God, man! You don't mean--See here, you're not a coward, or a thief, or an incompetent. What's your side of the story? What's the explanation?" "Explanations are hateful. The man who makes them deceives either himself or the other fellow--usually both. It is easy to be plausible. Would a mere statement from me, unsupported by proof, convince you where it failed to convince a court martial? Of course not. Then why make you uncomfortable by doubting my word?" Gray's smile was like the mirthless grin of a mummy. "I was found guilty, all in due military order, and--disgraced, branded! My uniform was taken from me, and I can't wear it again. I can never again serve my country. It was handled quietly, with admirable discretion, for those things are bad for the morale, you understand? Very few know about it. I'm a proud man, a vain man; I assure you the death penalty would have been much easier to bear." "What did Henry Nelson have to do with it?" "He alone can answer that." "An extraordinary situation! This is your revenge, eh?" "As a man of spirit, I had a choice of but two things, revenge or--suicide." "Hm-m! It is an embarrassing situation for me." "Indeed?" "Nelson has sold a large block of his bank stock to one of our directors." "Tell him to get out from under, quick," Gray said, sharply, "for I'll break Henry Nelson or--I'll kill him!"