"My dear fellow, you force my hand!" said Dollar. "God knows you have a right--and it can't make matters worse than they are. My evidence consists of a full and circumstantial confession by a scoundrel to whom I took your own dislike at sight, and whose career I have spent the week investigating. I needn't tell you I mean the infamous Rocchi." "Rocchi!" whispered Edenborough at the second attempt, as though his very tongue rejected the abhorrent name. Yet now he stood perfectly still, like a man who sees at last. "Well," he added in an ominously rational voice, "I must live long enough to send _him_ to hell, whatever else I do." "You will have to find him first," said Dollar. "He has gone back to his paymasters--not his own countrymen--they kicked him out long ago. I've taken it on myself to do the same, instead of handing him over to the police and doing an infinite deal more harm than good." But Edenborough was not listening to a word; he was talking to himself, and he talked aloud as soon as he was given a chance. "Now we know why she was so keen on my wretched job ... on the whole Navy?... No, not a life-long fraud like that.... And she pretended to dislike that brute as much as I did! I believe she did, too, but for his waltzing.... No, never jealous of him, and I'm not now ... but so much the worse, so much the more damnably cold-blooded!" Dying philosopher could not have displayed a more acute detachment. But the last touch was lost upon Dollar, whose expectant ear had caught the ting of an electric bell. "Edenborough," he said, in the voice of urgent conciliation, "the time has come for you to show what's in you. So far you have kept your head and played the man; keep it now, and you will play the hero! I still can't imagine what Miss Trevellyn can have to say for herself--but I implore you to hear her out, for I believe she is being admitted at this moment." "Lucy--here--and you expected her?" "I told you I had another appointment. But you were here first, one thing led to another, and it may be better as it is. You were bound to have this out between you--and to-day. If you wish me to be present--but no human being can help!" "Unless it's you!" suggested Edenborough in a panic-stricken whisper. "I can't face her alone--I can't trust myself!" Dollar took no notice of a knock at the door. "Edenborough, you must," he said gently; "and whatever she may have to say--much or little, and it may be much--you must hear patiently to the end. It's your duty, man! Don't flinch from it, for God's sake!" "But I do flinch from it!" cried Edenborough below his breath. "I flinch from it for her sake as much as mine. I'm not the one to shame her, even if Rocchi's telling----" The door opened in response to Dollar's decisive call. It was the little Barton boy, to say that Miss Trevellyn was in the waiting-room. "Show her in," said Dollar. "I have more than Rocchi's bare word, Edenborough."