Garvin's brain had leaped from thought to thought. Who had spied upon him? How much did Edward know? He could not have been near them that evening. It was not possible for any one to come near the willows and he not detect it. Garvin was capable of perfect coolness, and at unexpected moments. "What girl are you talking about?" he demanded. "I've played with more than one girl on the Ridge--so did you, I reckon, in your time." Edward drew an uneven breath. "I mean Ann Penniman." "Yes, I've talked to Ann--what of it?" "Answer my question! _How far has this thing gone?_" Edward repeated with such intense passion that Garvin recoiled, surprised rather than angered. Had he not been surprised, he would instantly have flared. "I've done Ann no harm!... But what great difference should it make to you? What's Ann Penniman to you? Why the devil should you come at me in this fashion--even if I had gone the lengths! One would suppose I'd been poaching on your preserves! I'm my own master--neither you nor any other man shall question me about how or with whom I choose to amuse myself!" Garvin had flared finally. Edward knew well what that sudden high note in Garvin's voice portended. He spoke quickly: "I apologize.... I ought to have got at the thing differently.... Sit down a moment--I want to talk of something else, first ... this matter of your getting the agency.... I've been consulting with Baird--about it.... Sit down--" Edward had talked with a certain haste, and yet with pauses, quieting his brother while he sought for his own self-control. It was almost beyond him; he had paused, laid hold on the thing, gone on, paused again. He ended with outward calm. And Garvin had quieted in the sudden way usual with him. Edward had motioned him to a chair, and he took it. Edward sat down opposite to him at the desk; he looked down while he talked. "It seems it depends on me whether Baird's firm will take you on or not. If I take stock in their company, they will give you the agency. I've--" "I don't want you to sacrifice money on my account," Garvin interrupted. "I mean to go somewhere--away from here--and just as soon as I can. I'll look about for something else, that's all."