The clergyman shook his head solemnly. "I cannot confess your sins for you," he averred. "If you are not man enough for that, we might as well stop before we begin." Hampstead’s tone was final. "You are right," admitted Burbeck, in tones of conviction; "you are right." But still he could not bring himself to touch the diamonds, and stood gazing as if charmed by the evil spell they wrought. Sensing this, the minister took up from his desk a long envelope which bore his name and address in the corner, opened it, lifted the sparkling string by one end, dropped it inside, moistened the flap, sealed it, and handed it to Burbeck. "There," he exclaimed, "you don’t even have to touch them again. Go straight to her hotel." "Oh, but I cannot," exclaimed Rollie, apprehension trembling in his tones. "I shall not dare to leave the bank until the shortage is covered. The executors might come in ahead of time, and I must be there to stall them off, if necessary. But I might telephone to Miss Dounay." "Telephones are leaky instruments," objected Hampstead, with a shake of his head. "Or send her a note," suggested Burbeck. "Notes miscarry," controverted the minister sagaciously, "and they do not always die when their mission is accomplished. Since you are taking my advice, I would say summon all your self-control, contain your secret in patience during the hours you must wait until your shortage is made good, and you can leave the bank to see Miss Dounay in person. You must do your part entirely alone, for my lips are sealed." "Sealed?" questioned Rollie, not quite comprehending. "Yes, the secret is your own. Think of your confession as made to God!" "You mean that you would never tell on me, no matter what happened?" "Just that. The liberty is not mine. I can only expect you to be true to your trust as I am true as a minister to mine." This was an idea Rollie could not grasp readily. It was taking away a prop upon which he had meant to lean. "But," he argued, "you make it possible for me to take your money and that of your friends and keep it, if you don’t have some kind of a club over me." "Exactly," replied the minister. "I want no club over you, Rollie. You must be a free agent, or else I have not really trusted you. Your right action would mean nothing if compulsory. You must be true to your trust from some inner spiritual motive." But Rollie was still groping. "And if I should, for instance, steal the money you give me?" "You would know it, and I, and one other," replied the minister, raising his eyes devoutly. Rollie swept his hand across his face slowly, with a gesture of bewilderment. This minister was taking him to higher and higher ground. He began to feel as if he had been led up to some transfiguring mountain peak of moral eminence. "It is the highest appeal which could be made to the honor of another," he breathed in tones approaching awe.